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Class. 
Book. 



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Gopightl^" 



copyRiGiiT DEPOsrr. 



ONLY ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE PUBLISHED AT THE STATE CAPITAL. 



jrip's" Valley Gazette 

Vol. V. Nil. ii. — 12 Numbeks, §i.oo 

ALBANY, N Y., NOVEMBER, 1897. 



A MONTHLY MAGAZINE 

. . SOCIAL, PERSONAL, HISTORICAL . . 

TRf JE AND NEWS 
EVERY COPY A VALUABLE SOUVENIR 



istorical 



r 




/^otivenir * * * 

OF 



OXFORD, N. Y. 



Copyright, iSq?. by "Grip." 



PRICE, 25 CENTS. 




Photo by A. C. Lev 



KENOTAH FALLa 



r>taTTora cc RurKe, 




OXF^ORD, IN. Y., 

The Up-to-Date ^ 

STATIONERY ^ ^ 

^ J^ h SPECIALTY. 

A FEW QUOTATIONS: 



ENVELOPES. 

500 $ .90 

JOOO 1.50 

I PACXETNOTE. 

500 $1.50 

1000 2.J0 



LETTER HEADS. 

500 $1.75 

1000 2.50 

STATEMENTS. 

500 $1.25 

1000 2.00 



^.^entrai Kestaurant^ "p" 

<^ Meals and Luncheons at All H 

The Best Table, j* ^ Service C 

CATERER FOR PARTIE 




' .T' ' % 



W. .1! |i |l| 



R. E. SREPMCI 

Residence and Shop,"^ ^ 

Spence Biiildino. Nn. 20 NortJi Can 





©xforb Steam Xaunbt^, 

FIRST-CLASS WORK GUARANTEED. 

GEORGE p. RUaa, Proprietor. 




U. U LILLI« 

Dealerin CbOtCC Jfamtl^ 6 OC 

^ Flour, Salt, Fruits, Gontectioneru, I 



CD>CF^OF=?ED, I-vI. V. 



HISTORICAL SOUVENIR, SERIES No. 



\" grip's" Valley Qa'^ette. 

VOL. V. No. 1 I. 
Ai.K.wN, N. v., Xo\ K.\ii;i;k, 1807. 



OXFORD, N.Y.—- 

VICINITY, 



ILLUSTRATED. 



OXFORD, N. Y., is a beautiful village laid 
out in broad, shady streets intersecting at 
right angles, on both sides of the Chenango 
river, which flows through the center of the vil- 
lage. It is the second in commercial importance 
in the county and second to none in the social and 
educational advantages it offers. By means of two 
railroads it is connected with all important towns 
in the state ; viz. : the New York, Ontario &• West- 
ern and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, 
competing lines running trains from Oxford di- 
rect to New York, 243 miles by the latter route, 
which is the most convenient. At Bingham ton, 
35 miles, are connections with the Erie, east and 
west; at Sidney, 17 miles, with the Delaware & 
Hudson for Albany and Montreal, and at Utica, 62 
miles, and Oneida, 44 miles, with the New York 
Central east and west, while Syracuse is but a 
short ride and Oswego is reached on through trains 
in nearly the same time. 

There are si.^ churches and a large and thor- 
oughly equipped Union school, the latter recently 
constructed at an expense of $20,000, and provided 
with all modern conveniences. This place is noted 
for the numerous springs which supply a large 
number of residences with constantly running 
water. This is a rare feature which attracts the 
attention of strangers. In addition thereto the 
town has within the pist year appropriated $22,- 
000 for the construction of a water system just 
completed, which is fed directly from springs and 
connected by a "V" line with a reservoir for fire 
purposes, situated 200 feet above the level of the 
village, thus giving sufficient head to throw a 
stream' over the highest buildings. There is also 
a complete electric lighting system, illuminating 
the streets with arc lights and the buildings with 
arc or incandescent. A gas company, recently or- 
ganized, has just piped the village and is prepared 
to furnish cheap and adequate lights. 

In and about the village are numerous eligible 
sites for factories, where branch tracks may be 
run in from the railroads. With two raih-oads 
bringing in coal from competing mines, the Dela- 
ware & Hudson and the Lackawanna, and with an 
abundance of water power, the village offers ad- 
vantages to manufacturers which, including cheap- 
ness of power, are not surpassed by many inland 
towns of its size. 

The leading industry is quarrying and dressing 
stone for all purposes'. Rich veins of both blue 
and gray stone and flags of the finest quality are 
opened in several places along the hillsides on 
both sides of the village. There are also large 
banks of the finest building sand. Lumber of 
many kinds is dressed here and shipped to Bmg- 
hamton and other places. Other industries in- 
clude novelty and machine works, fruit baskets, 
extracts and the manufacture of cigars and teeth. 



The retail trade is quite extended, through a 
rich dairy and agricultural section. There are 
many excellent sites for residences, including large 
tracts of ground within the corporation limits, 
which if placed in the hands of an enterprising 
real estate firm, for which there is a good opening, 
could be readily disposed of and would greatly in- 
crease the population of the village, now about 
1600. 

The residences are better than the average in 
small towns. Many of them are handsome in 
style of architecture, and are built on modem 
plans. The private grounds are tasty and well 
kept. The streets are in good order and through 
the enterprise of the citizens are sprinkled in dry 
weather. Some years ago several ladies of the 
village organized an improvement association. 
By means of subscriptions and public entertain- 
ments they raised money from time to time to im- 
prove the avenues and squares. Washington park, 
an oval of grass plats and walks ornamented with 
shrubbery and containing about five acres, located 
in the residential part of the town on the east side 
of the river, and Lafayette square, a large plaza 
in the business section on the west side, both of 
which are a credit to the village, as well as Fort 
Hill square, an unimproved park overlooking the 
east shore ot the river, are in charge of the ladies' 
improvement association, which is vested with 
practically the same powers as a park board in the 
city. This association laid out and curbed a green 
sward in Lafayette square and put up the Cole 
memorial fountain, the gift of members of an old 
Oxford family of that name. The expense of the 
improvements in the square and bringing water 
down from the hills for the fountain was about 
Si, 000, which figure also represents the cost of the 
fountain. Society in Oxford is what one would 
expect to find in a- village composed very largely 
of descendants of time-honored families who had 
the means to educate their children and who were 
possessed of those steriing qualities nece^^sary to 
penetrate the unbroken forests and lay the foun- 
dation for a prosperous future. The people are 
hospitable and not clannish. Amusements of a 
high character are well patronized ; barn stormers 
without a reserve fund invariably walk out of 
town. Between the ladies' improvement associa- 
tion, who give a course of lectures, three literary 
societies with adult membership, the work of 
which is ably described on other pages of this 
souvenir, and an opera house provided with a 
good stage and accompaniments, ample seating 
capacity and a competent manager, the social 
seasons are all that can be desired. 

There is much more that can be said m behalt 
of a village like Oxford. There are the well-sup- 
ported churches, in charge of earnest, capable and 
popular clergy, the young people's societies which 




MADE FOK GRIP'S HISTORICAL SOUVENIR, K. R. BURKE, ARTIST. 



I 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



are active auxiliaries in the moral and social im- 
provement of the community, the wide-awake cit- 
izens, of whom Oxford numbers many, alert to all 
that promises the advancement of the place, the 
many families of laboring men who earn good 
wages and are what are commonly called good 
providers, a largely manned and fully equipped vol- 
unteer hre department and a small but practical 
system of fire signals extemporized by using a cal- 
liope whistle connected with the steamer house, 
which rarely if ever fails to head the boys directly 
to the scene of fire. 

The town is also noted for the several fraternal 
societies, each of which includes a large member- 
ship and is in a growing and prosperous condition ; 
such as the Y. M C. A., with a large membeiship 
which promises very much _ 

for the social and moral ele- 
vation of the community, 
supported by a ladies' auxil- 
iary, which is supported by 
the best people in town ; the 
Masonic lodge and chapter, ^^ 
among the older lodges of ■^ 
that fraternity ; the Red Jlen. 
which tribe has furnished 
timber for State olficers of , 
high standing; the Grand ^^J^>- 
Army of the Republic, a ^^ 
flourishing post ; a lodge of 
stationary engineers; the 
Good Templars; the A. O. 
U. \V. and numerous other 
organizations. 

A sketch of Oxford would 
be incomplete without ref- 
erence in this connection to 
the Oxford Times, a weekly 
newspaper which is pub- 
lished and edited by men whose policy is that of 
supporting home enterprise first, last and all the 
time. This publication has invariably refused to 
accept advertisements of out of-town and itiner- 
ant retailers who seek to compete with local mer- 
chants. This is a fact, strange as it may seem, 
which can be attested by 

Yours Very Truly, 

"Gkip." 



HISTORICAL REVIEW OF OXFORD. 



O 



,XFORD was erected from the town of Jeri- 
cho (now Bainbridge) Jan. 19, 1793. The 
county of Chenango was erected from the 
CI lunties of Herkimer and Tioga March 15, 179S. 
On Nov. I, 1683, the province of New York was 
created, comprising the counties of Albany, Corn- 
wall now in Maine), Dukes (now a part of Massa- 
chusetts), Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, 
Queens, Richmond, Suffolk. Ulster and Westches- 
ter. Subsequently ()ntario was erected from Al- 
ban\ Montg mer\ f ro n Ontario Herkimei fiom 




KEbPN TERIAN CHI kcH — c.\l 
nnals of Oxford by H J G Ipm 




O.XI'ORIi, 1S72. — NAVV ISI,.\NI) (WKST M.^IN STREET), 

From "Annals of O.xford," by H. J. Galpin. 



Montgomery and Tioga from Herkimer, from both 
of which came Chenango, comprising eight towns: 
Jericho, formed Feb. 16, 1791; Norwich and Ox- 
ford, Jan. 19, 1793; and Brookfield, Cazenovia, 
Hamilton, Sangerfield and Sherburne, March 5, 
1795. The site of the present village of Oxford 
was first settled in 1790 bv Eliiah Blackman, who 
came from Connecticut arid squatted on the island 
m the Chenang;o river which has since attained the 
name of Cork from an incident in which it is cred- 
ited with being the scene of a 
1 duel when the principals un- 
knowingly fired corks with 
which their pistols had been 
loaded by their seconds. This 
was comprised in a tract of 
land purchased by Gen. Benja- 
min Hovey, and known as "the 
j; re " / f. , all that part of the 
piesent town of Oxford lying 
west of the Chenango river and 
at that time comprising 7,000 
acres. Blackman was left in 
undispvited possession of his 
isl ind home until Nov., 1790, 
when Gen Hovey arrived from 
I nadilla and Blackman was in- 
duced to accept a hundred acres 
a mile and a half up the river. 
It being the purpose of the 
owner to adopt this location for 
the village to which he gave 
the name of O.xford. after his 
biithplace in Massachusetts. 
Daniel Tucker appeared in the 
spi ing of 1791, taking up fifty 
acies adjoining the Blackman 
farm and was employed for two 
jears succeeding in driving 
team for Gen. Hovey between 
( )xford and Catskilf. In the 



THE (.)XFORl) HISTORICAL S( >rVI-:.\IR. 



summer of i/qo the log dwellings of Blackman, 
Hovey and Tucker were the only buildings in 
Oxford. Before the close of the year, however, 
the community included John Bartle, Peter Bur- 
got. Benaiah Loomis, 'Francis Balcolm, Eben 
Enos, John Church. Charles Hurst, William Wet- 
enhall. John Buckley and Jesse Hamilton. Three 
years later the State road from Catskill to the 
west was completed, Gen. Hovey having the con- 
tract for constructing the section extending from 
the Unadilla river, at what is now Rockdale, to 
Cayuga lake near Ithaca. James Phelps is men- 
tioned as coming to Oxford with Blackman, but 
he is represented to have left about 1791. Black- 
man and Tucker died here, the former in 1825 
and the latter in 1845. Hovey went to Ohio in 
1S04, where he engaged with Aaron Burr and 
Gen. Wilkinson in a canal project which was de- 
feated. Gen. Hovey was born in Oxford, JIass.. 
in 1757. He served as deputy sheriff and was 
conspicuous in quelling Shay's rebellion. He 
served in the Xew York legislature and promoted 
the formation of Chenango count)-, of which he 
served as judge. 

Lucy A. Balcolm, the eldest grandchild of 
Francis Balcolm. writes to The .Souve.mk that 



death, which occurred about a year ago. A great- 
grandson of John Bartle now lives in Guilford, 
and there are other descendants in this section. 
Peter Burgot removed to Albany county at an 
early date. His descendants still living here are 
Miss Helen Lobdell and Mrs. G. W. Godfrey. 
W Benaiah Loomis died upon the farm on which he 
settled about 1835 or '40, and numerous descend- 
ants of the same name are still living. John 
Church settled on the farm now occupied by Mrs. 
R. J. McCall, where he died October 23, 1825. 
William Wettenhall, or Whittenhall the name 
used later, kept a tavern for many years two miles 
below Oxford. He died in McDonough, April 2, 
1S48. A great-grandson, Henry Whittenhall. the 
son of Uri Whittenhall, who conducted the Che- 
nango House in Greene for many years, is living 
in that village, and he has a sister, Mrs. Brown, 
living in LTtica. John Buckley settled in the west- 
ern part of the town on the Smithville line, on 
the tarm where he died, which is now owned by 
his grandson, William P. Buckley, a builder liv- 
ing in this village. Mrs. Charles A. Bennett, jr.. 
Miss F. A. Baldwin and Mrs. Phelps.'living in the 
town, are grandchildren. Jesse Hamilton, first 
settled in the village, and afterwards removed to 





^ 






M.J,1\ bTKEKl HKlUdK, l-KO.\l BElJtW THE DA.M. 



Mr. Hovey's daughter, Ruth, married Uri Tracey, 
but that most of their descendants are widely 
separated. Francis Balcolm, she writes, was born 
in Sudbury, Mass., in 1767. His father, Henry, 
served in the battle of Bennington under Gen. 
Stark, and his great-granddaughter, Lucy, now 
has a brass candlestick which he picked up on the 
battlefield, the souvenir of some retreating British 
officer. Francis Balcolm came to ( )xford in 1791. 
He superintended the construction of the State 
road from Oxford to Rockdale. His was the first 
deed of a farm in ( ).xford, which was owned by 
Henr\- Balcolm until 1S31, when it became the 
property of Mr. Austin Hyde, who sold it to ^Mr. 
W. A. Harrington, the father of Mr. A. D. Har- 
rington, the present owner and occupant. The 
descendants of Francis Balcolm very likely repre- 
sent the oldest family in Oxford to-day. He died 
August 8, 1S50, and his wife September 25. i366. 
John Bartle settled on a farm near the mouth of 
Bowman's creek, where he opened the first tavern 
in Oxford. This place was owned and occupied 
by Irwin D. Bartle, his great-grandson, until his 



the farm now occupied by Joseph Hahan, where 
he died December 30, 1814. He has no descend- 
ants living here. The record of those who settled 
in Oxford in 1792, as far as obtainable, is limited. 
Research gives little information as to what tran- 
spired that year. Peter Burgot erected power 
grist mills, the first in the town, during the sum- 
mer of 1792, on a creek which bore the name of 
Hovey's mill creek. Among those mentioned as 
coming to Oxford that year was Moses Bennett, 
who ascended the Chenango river in a canoe, ac- 
companied by his sons, and settled on a tract of 
land two miles square, four or five miles north of 
the \-illage, for which he paid a shilling an acre. 
Mr. Bennett contrived a hand-mill for grinding 
grain, which not only supplied the wants of his 
own family but of those of many others who 
brought their grist to him from far and near. 
Descendants continued to live on this farm until 
about two years ago, when J. Howard Bennett, a 
great-grandson, removed to Bainbridge. Samuel 
Lyon and brothers also came up the river in ca- 
noes that year and settled upon what is now known 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



as Lyon brook, 
where they pur- 
chased three 
square miles of 
land at a shilling 
an acre. Their 
descendants hold 
an annual reun- 
ion, on which oc- 
casion it IS shown 
that many are 
still 1 i \- i n g , 
th ou g h widely 
scattered. The 
Lyons also erect- 
ed grist and saw 
mills about that 
time. Uri Tracey 
a Presbyterian 
clergyman and a 
missionary to the 
Indians, came to 
Oxford as early 
as I7g2, though 
lust about what 
time is not men- 
tioned. On iVIarch 
22, 179S. he was 
appointed sheriff, 
the first to hold 
that office in the 
county, in which 
position he serv- 
ed until iSoi. In 
1S03 he was one 
of the four mem- 
bers of assembly pha 
from this county, 
and in 1S05-- and 




F. G. CLAKKE'S RKSIDENCK. 



13 was member ot congress. residen 

Upon the formation of the county the records of the 

were kept at Cazenovia by Samuel S. Bree.se. who Albany 

was succeeded as county clerk by Mr. Tracey, ap- during 

pointed August 13, 1S15. The basement of the county 




J. R. VAN WA iENEN'S RE.SIDENCE 
Photo by Burke. 



H. \V. CL.VRKE'.S KE.SIUENCE. 



ce he then occupied, which was on the site 
present dwelling of William E. Dunn, on 
street, served as the county clerk's office 
his terra. He was appointed judge of the 
July 8, iSig, and was president of the third 
state constitutional 
convention — i 846. 
He was the first 
postmaster in Ox- 
ford, which in 1S02 
was the only post- 
office in the county 
and was called Ox- 
ford Academy. 
James and William 
Padgett were 
among the first set- 
tlers here, proba- 
bly in 1792. Wil- 
liam was killed in 
a dead-fall set for 
bears. James died 
November 24. 184S. 
Samuel Miles Hop- 
kins is another set- 
tler of 1S92, who 
was the first lawyer 
in Oxford. Among 
those who are 
prominently men- 
tioned among the 
earliest settlers 
after this year are 
Jonathan Baldwin 
and Theodore 
Burr, architects, 
millwrights and 
bridge -builders, 
Solomon Dodge, 
who settled on the 
farm now occupied 
by A. an d E. P. 



E L. c;RAEFF'.S RESIDENCE. 

Photo by GraefF. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




PIRST NATID.VAL BANr 
Photo by (Iraeir. 

•Morse, John Holmes (revolutionary soldier), Elea- 
zer Smith (revolutionary soldier/, Zopher Betts. 
Stephen O. Runyan, Peter B. Garnsey. Ephraim 
Fitch, a descendant of one of the Mayflower passen- 
gers, Amos Havens, Emmons Locke, Anson Carev, 
Nathaniel Locke. Asa and Levi Sherwood. Daniel 
Sill, John McNeill, David Shapley, Jared Hinck- 
ley (revolutionary soldier), Jonathan Bush, Daniel 
and Wm. Dennison, Wm. Gile, Capt Samuel 
Farnham, Josiah Hackett (revolutionary soldier), 
Ezekiel Olds, Erastus Perkins (erected' the Park 
Hotel). Ebenezer Root, Edward Loomis, Major 
Daniel Throcjp. Col. Benj. Throop (served under 
Gen. Washington), Epiphras Miller, Nehemiah 
Smith. Gideon Mead, John 
Tracey (afterwards lieuten- 
ant-governor of the state), 
Daniel Shuniway. Benjamin 
Butler. Joseph Cook, Ran- 
som Rathbone. Frederick 
Hopkins and Solomon Bun- 
dy, sr. (Jther conspicuous 
settlers, including the Bal- 
colms. Millers. Mygatts and 
others, are mentioned else- 
where in these pages. 

On June 17. 1793, William 
Guthrie. Hezekiah Stowell 
and Joab Enos. the first jus- 
tices, met at the house of 
Benjamin Hovey and elected 
Elihu Murray, town clerk : 

' James Phelps. Ebenezer 
Enos and John Fitch, assess- 
ors; Zachariah Loomis, col- 
lector; Peter Burgot and 
Joshua Mercereau. poor-mas- 



ters; James Phelps, Asa Holmes and Na- 
thaniel Locke, commissioners of high- 
ways; Abel Gibson and James Mitchell, 
constables. The first town meeting was 
held the first Tuesday in April. 1794. and 
Ephraim Fitch was elected supervisor 
and E. Murray town clerk. It was voted 
"to give three Pounds Bounty on Each 
wolf Kitcht and Kild in this Town in ad- 
dition to what Bounty the County Gives." 
The census of the town taken in Octo- 
ber, 1795, reported 150 heads of families. 
The town expenses for the year 1799 were 
as follows: Defraying county charges, 
$193.81; for wolves, S30; collector's and 
treasurer's fees, SiS ; school, $89.43 ; total, 
S331 24- 

" The Diamond City." — There is a le- 
gend that, "once on a time," soon after 
(.).>:ford was first lighted by electricity, as 
the evening train from the north on the 
O. & W. railway pulled into our station, 
a passenger, a lady of course, exclaimed 
in raptures: "It is the diamond city!" 
The twinkling lights in the valley inspired 
her. We, of O.Kford, should appreciate 
and proclaim this title: it is suggestive 
of beauty, even the rarest beauty. More- 
over, this progressive town deserves such 
a cognomen. For there are many things 
here to attract the traveler, and even the 
man who appreciates the influence of the 
beautiful when he is seeking a home. 
Seen from the hill-side where our lady 
traveler looked over our quiet village, 
there are many happy and luxurious 
homes, the spires of churches that an- 
nounce not rivalry but Christian fellow- 
ship, business blocks that tell of prcsper- 
ity, anoble school building — worthy pat- 
tern for any village in the Empire state; parks 
and shaded streets, fountains and springs of pur- 
est water. And when we come down from the 
hill-side and mingle with the citizens of Oxford, 
surely the distant vision is confirmed. Good-na- 
tured, well-dressed men and women, bright boys 
and girls abound. And as the years lengthen our 
acquaintance, we are more and more pleased with 
the evidences of thrift; and these citizens of the 
"diamond city" have those intellectual and moral 
qualities which make a town attractive as a home. 
Here sweet charity never makes her appeal in 
vain. And culture shows its presence in manv 
homes and on every street. It has been said that 




THE ULD ACADE.MY. 



THE OXFORIJ HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



civilization is expensive. And it is true. But it 
pays good returns Stanley found no high\va5-s 
in Africa — only almost impassable forests. The 
palaces of Africa were primitive huts. The white 
man toiled over hundreds of miles without a com- 
fort. But when he met the people who called all 
this wilderness home, what were they? Savages! 
Sometimes harmless, sometimes brutal, but always 
low down savages. They knew little about ta.xes, 
nothing about even the humblest home life, such 
as one meets in the poorest home in ( )xford. Good 
roads, light streets, pure water, comfortable 
houses, furnished as well as our prosperity allows: 
these are what give our children the blessings of 
civilization. It is in such a town that we find the 
temples of Christian faith, in room of the hideous 
places dedicated to idolatry. It is here that edu- 
cation flourishes, instead of ignorance and filth. 
God bless the "I^iamond City," and make it a 
blessing to the generations of all future time. — C. 
R. Paksons. 



temporary set of books. James W. Clarke, its 
first President, an old merchant of great strength 
of character, and a man of rare abilitv, served 14 
years, until his death in 1878. The bank was a 
success from its inception, paying a dividend be- 
fore the close of its first year, and without inter- 
ruption at each semiannual period since, that of 
July last numbering 66. It has paid its original 
shareholders (only five of whom survive) four 
times its present capital in dividends, and taxes 
equal to fully a quarter of its aggregate dividends. 
In 1 894 the present commodious and architectural- 
ly beautiful building was erected, which is a mon- 
ument to the enterprise and liberality of the 
present management. Its plans were drawn in 
the office of State Architect Perry, and personally 
supervised by him. Its appearance as illustrated 
in this Souvenir speaks for itself. Its present iJi- 
rectors are J. R. Van Wagenen, Pres., F. G. 
Clarke, \'ice Pres.. W. H. Van Wagenen of Rome, 
X. V. (manufacturer at Palatka, Florida), C. 




Photos bvGraeff. 



THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK. 

President's Office. Banking Dep't. 



First National Bank. — The organization certifi- 
cate is dated Feb. 10, 1S64, No. 273 in order of its 
establishment; the national banks recently organ- 
ized being numbered up to 5,090. Its original 
capital stock was $70,000. Original Board of Di- 
rectors: — James W. Clarke. Frederick A. Sands, 
John Ray Clarke, Peter W. Clarke, Wm. Van 
Wagenen, F. G. Clarke, Wm. H. Van Wagenen. 
Subsequently, by an enlargement of its capital 
stock, a new element came into the management, 
represented in the Board by William Mygatt, 
Henry L. Miller and Gerrit H. Perkins. To the 
energy and public spirit of the late John Ray 
Clarke was largely due its establishment; he hav- 
mg been instrumental in soliciting subscriptions 
to its stock in the face of opposition and discour- 
agements. He also opened and formulated its 



D. Hayes ( banker at Clinton, X. Y. ). Wm. M. Mil- 
ler, Gilbert J. Parker and H. W. Clarke. .Mr. 
J. R.\"an Wagenen has been connected as As.sistant 
Cashier, Cashier and President with the bank 
from its establishment, having occujiied the latter 
po.sition for the past twenty years. He is progres- 
sive in his ideas, and has made the bank well 
known among bankers throughout the country by 
the acquaintance he has formed in connection 
with the American Bankers Association, whose 
meetings he has generally attended from its or- 
ganization, and of which he was made Mce Presi- 
dent for New York State, at Atlanta in 1895. The 
bank is also a member of the N. Y. State .Associa- 
tion. Mr. Clarke, the Vice President, is well 
known for his enterprise and business manage- 
ment, being President of the F. G. Clarke Blue 
Stone Co., of which he was the originator, and 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 





^ ^ 


i 




^ 




i:_^ 


'k, 



DR. C. H. ECCLESTON. 



which has developed into a great industry. Jared 
C. Estelow, Cashier, has been nearly 15'yeaVs in 
Us service, and has occupied his present position 
.since Oct.. iSSg. He is a member of the Board of 
Education, and active in all that concerns the 
best interests of the locality. The institution is 
popular in the coniraunity, and notwithstaading 
Its position as the only bank in ( Xxford, no one 
seems to feel that any advantage has ever been 
taken of that circumstance. The following sum- 
mary shows the condition of the bank on July 
13th, last: Resources — Loans and discounts, 
$198,938.08; stocks, bonds and mortgages, $124,- 
204.53; banking house, furniture and fi.xtures, 
$26,784.30; U. S. 4 ;; bonds of 1925, .Sroo,ooo; pre- 
miums, S13.000; reserve in banks and with 
Treasurer U. S., 844.227- 19; due from other , 
banks, $3,447.71; cash, S19.72097; total. 
$530,322.78. Liabilities-Capital stock, Sioo,- 
000; surplus fund. S;o,ooo: undivided profits, 
$42, 897. 78; 66th dividend, $4,000; circulation, 
$90,000; deposits, $242,231.21; due banks, 
$753-07; due Treasurer U. S., $440.72- to- 
tal, $530,322.78. 

Dr. C. H. Ecdeston, a veteran dentist and 
a resident of O.xford for upwards of the past 
fifty years, was born in Preston. Chenango 
Co., May 28, 1S26, where he was brought up 
on a farm, until 1845 when he entered the 
Oxford academy, taking a half term cour.se 
that year and a full term in 1S46 in the Nor- 
wich academy. In the spring of 1847 he be- 
gan the study and practice of ••drilling and 
plugging teeth." as he characteristicallv 
terms it, in the office of Dr. E. H. Parmlee'. 
Norwich, having previously had a i raining 
in a jewelry store, where he became quite 
adept at engraving on wood and copper. 
The doctor began practice in Corning, Steu- 
ben Co., May, 1S4S. and duringthe course of 
that year, he removed to Utica, where he 
practiced for a .short time, coming to Oxford 
in 1849. Having progressive ideas and an 
inventive turn he devoted his spare time out- 
side of office hours to making moulds for the 
manufacture of teeth, having in view that 
form of enterprise which he later started with 
success. Thirty seven years ago he took a 
course of instruction under Dr. Norman W. 



T Kingsley in carving and making block or section 
teeth, which laid the foundation for the Union Tooth 
Co. This he established in 1S60 for the manufacture 
of teeth, which are being shipped to many of the 
\ leading business centres in various parts of the 
' world, including (Germany, Canada, Mexico, and 
( Treat Britain The business is located in the 
Eccleston building, on Clinton street, .shown in an 
illustration in these pages, where during busy 
',easons many hands are employed. The premise's 
are fitted with a furnace, pans,' bronze mo'ulds and 
other appliances for the manufacture of this 
special line of goods, and there are to be seen racks 
upon racks of the pearly teeth stowed neatly away 
in cases, showing that the business is one of con- 
Mderable importance. This is the result of many 
years of study and experiment, filling up tira'e 
•snatched from a large and prosperous practice 
■.vhich the doctor has conducted for half a century. 
He was also the inventor of a dental chair which 
attracted the attention of the profession and was 
uily described and illustrated in the Scientific 
.Vmerican, Jan. 20, 1849. The doctor added im- 
]irovements to the chair, which, bv the way, he 
-liinks was the first to have three' adjustments, 
m idea the inventor failed to patent, but which 
'thers appropriated. He patented other useful 
flevices including an ether sprayer and a vaccine 
-ipring lance. He also perfected improvements in 
artificial teeth which were detailed and pictured 
in the American Artisan of May 12, 1S69. Thor- 
oughly awake to the advance of his profession, he 
has been the first to adopt modern requirements; 
for example, he protests against that "crown and 
liridge work," wnich he says so manv seem inter- 
ested in. but which he declares to be' •'the second 
cousin to the kind of work done fortv-five years 
ago, with improvements of course wh'ich the rich 
can pay for if they want to." He can make gold 
crowns when the case requires and porcelain 
cannot be used. Dr. Eccleston has operating 
parlors in the same building with the Tooth Co., 
and gives attention to all kinds of dental work! 
He is active in public matters and a close observer 
of passing events, which he takes great interest in 




Photo by Graeff. DR. ECCLESTOX'S BUILDING. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



discussing ; at the same time hav- 
ing a rich store of reminiscences 
bearing on the history of Oxford 
for a long time back. On January 
22. 1.S51. he married Amanda N. 
Foote. Their children are Mrs. 
Dr. G. D. Johnson of Oreene, Miss 
Mary McCall Eccleston at school 
at Albany, and Charles G.. Edson 
Fiiote, and Walter Lee of Oxford. 
Dr. Eccleston always voted the 
Republican ticket but never held 
office but once, when he served 
as village trustee for four years. 
Mrs. Eccleston is much interested 
in the social and progressive life 
of the village and is an earnest 
worker in the ladies' improvement 
society. C. G. Eccleston, the jun- 
ior member of the firm, was born 
at Oxford, October 29, 1S51. and 
was graduated at Falley Semi- 
nary, Fulton, X. V. He became 
connected with the enterprise in 
1S72 and has charge of the busi- 
ness and the shipping. He mar- 
ried Minnie, daughter of \Vm. 
Cook of Sidney. The company 
does a general depot business, 
furnishing dentists with all classes 
of dental goods and making a 
specialty of superior teeth in rub- 
ber and amalgam. 

The Y. M. C. A.— This very 
promising section of the Voung 
Men's Christian Association of the 
State of New York, was organized in the earl}' 
part of I Sg6 by the appointment of J. C. Estelow, 
President; M. D. Aldrich, Secretary; A. S. 
Burchard, Treasurer; Wellington Alexander, 
J. W. Harrington, James Burke, Geo. R. Kradlev, 
F. E. Beadle and Geo. L. Stafford as an executive 
committee by the State Committee. In the fall of 
that year a suite of rooms in the Harrington block 
were engaged and very attractively furnished. 
The}' consist ot a public reading room, open to all 
from four o'clock to ten o'clock p. m., daily, a 
game room, and an assembly room with a seating 
capacity of about one hundred and fifty. ( )n the 
tables and in the files of the reading room will be 
found all the leading magazines, journals and 




Photos by Burke 




Photo by Graeff. 



DR. C. H. ECCLESTON S RE.SIDENCE. 



THE Y. 11. C. A. ROOMS. 

newspapers of the day, such as Harper's Scrib- 
ner's, Century, Forum, Review of Reviews, St. 
Nicholas, Harper's Weekly, Leslie's, Scientific 
American, Youth's Companion, Puck, Judge, New 
York Sun, Tribune and all local papers, besides a 
.strong representation of the religious press. The 
executive committee were extremely fortunate in 
securing the services of Mr. Geo. A. Mallory as 
superintendent in charge. His hearty interest in 
work of this character is manifest by the cordial- 
ity of his welcome to any and all who patronize 
the rooms, and is not the least of the drawing ele- 
ments that make the rooms so attractive. The 
efforts of the Association are directed along such 
lines as to draw to it the support and active co- 
operation of all citizens in- 
terested in what pertains to 
he best in the social and civic 
life of the community. From 
ihe date of its establishment 
the membership has steadily 
increased until, at the present 
lime, there are fully one hun- 
dred names on its roll of ac- 
:ive members. On its list of 
supporting patrons are to be 
lound the names of the best 
.md leading citizens of the 
lown. A great measure of the 
-•uccess already attained by 
the Association is due to the 
effective help of the Ladies' 
Auxiliary, the members of 
>vhich have always evinced a 
hearty interest in its welfare 
and an ever ready willingness 
to serve in its cause. Its pres- 
ent equipment for the work 
usually carried on by organi- 
/.ations of this character is 
,v;'Ood, and the executive com- 
mittee have in contemplation 
the installment of a limited 



TIIK <)X|-(iRD lIlSTdRICAL SOUVENIR. 




At:AI)KMY AND UNION SCHOOL. 

GeorKL" W. Aldrich, Bii 




amount of gymnasium apparatus as soon as the 
necessary funds can be secured. Taken as a whole, 
the location, management, support and character 
of work are such as to give hope of a prosperous 
and useful future for the Association. 

The School. — Owing to the popular adoption of 
the free school system throughout the state, 0.\-- 
ford .\cademy, having rounded out its century of 
prosperity and won for itself and the town a well 
merited reputation as one of the foremost centers 
of culture and learning in the state, gracefully 
yielded its position as 
a private academy and 
became merged into a 
puljlic institution un- 
der the name of 0.\- 
foi d Academy and 
I'nion School. The 
legal steps toward the 
consummation of this 
union were taken in 
the Spring of 18115. 
'J'he new school thus 
formed combines the 
former districts of the 
village which formed 
the nucleus for the 
grades and the time 
honored academy per- 
petuated by the' aca- 
demic department. To 
provide lor this larger 
institution, the old 
academy building was 
remoN'ed and a new 
a n d CO m m odious 
.structure erected upon 
its site at a cost of 
$20,000. 'I'he mate- 
rial is of brick, with 
O.Kford blue stom- 
trimmings. The base- 
ment, light and airy, 
besides affording am 
pie room for the stor- 
age of fuel and the 

machinerv and appa- .,,„., rronxe CKNTENNIAI 

ratus for heating and Loaned by the Times. 



ventilating (the S)-s- 
tem of the Peck-Wil- 
liamson Company of 
Cincinnati, C), con- 
tains also the toilet 
rooms and two large 
rooms for the prima- 
ry grades. The first 
floor, with its ample 
halls, furnishes five 
•.; grade rooms with 
cloak rooms adjoin- 
ing each, a teachers' 
parlor and a fine li- 
brary and Natural 
History room, while 
the second floor gives 
room for the eighth 
grade, the academic 
department, the 
principal's office, 
f( lur 1 ecitation rooms 
and a spacious as- 
sembly hall, adapted 
to chapel exercises 
and other public do- 
ings of the .school. 
The building has a 
capacity of upwards 
of 500 pupils, and is. 
ample in its propor- 
tions to accommo- 



date the large academic department and the 
eight grades leading up to it. The rooms are 
elegantly lighted and furnished with the most ap- 
proved systems of heating and ventilation and 
thoroughly equipped for successful teaching with 
the most modern furniture and apparatus. In the 
completion of all these details the utmost regard 
has been had to the comfort and convenience of 
both teachers and pupils. Sparkling spring water 
from the hillsides is on draught in the basement 
and first floor; a system of speaking tubes, electric 













T.\HLET UN THE SCHOOL LOBBY). 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



call bells and fire alarm connects the various 
rooms with the academic department, and a pro- 
gram clock strikes the divisions of time automat- 
ically in all the school rooms. A large and varied 
collection of rare stuffed birds and animals, a gift 
to the institution of Mr. Isaac S. Sherwood, valued 
at $2,000, forms a prominent feature in the Natu- 
ral History room, and a well selected library for- 
merly in tiie care of the Calleopean Society in the 
old academy, has been placed in modern metallic 
cases in the library room, where ample shelves 
await the purchase of new and valuable books. 
< )ne must go far to find a more attractive room 
than this. As to location, the site on which the 



Brown, President; Wellington Alexander, Clerk ; 
Peter \'. Newkirk, Treasurer; and Charles W. 
Brown, John \V. Thorp, JI. IJ., Jared C. Estelow, 
Clark E. Bartlett, Albert S. Burchard, John J. 
Lillis, William K. Jacobs, Alexander D. Wands, 
Frank T. Corbin, commissioners. The faculty: 
Prof. Reynolds H. Coe, M. A.. Principal; Miss 
Cornelia Beare, Teacher of Modern Languages; 
Miss Mary P. Joslyn, Teacher of Science and 
Mathematics; Miss Family W. Mills. Teacher 
Eighth grade; Miss Lena M. Harmon, Seventh 
grade; Miss Edith V. King. Sixth grade; Miss 
Bertha R. Kain, I'ifth and I'ourth grades; Miss 
Myra J. Perkins, Third grade; Miss VAla. Marsden, 




ACADE.MV AND LNIOX SCHOOL. 
Academic Dep't. Primary Dep t. 



building stands, set apart for educational purposes 
more than a half century ago, is most fortunate, 
being centrally located, sloping as it does toward 
the banks of the Chenango and affording ample 
grounds for recreation and pleasure, while the 
scenery on all sides is unsurpassed in beauty and 
picturesqueness. The building was formally 
opened Sejit. 7, 1S97, with appropriate ceremonies, 
on which occasion addresses were delivered by 
Hon. Charles W. Brown, President of the Boari 
of Education, Principal Coe, and Hon. Charles R. 
Skinner, Superintendent of Public Instruction of 
the State. The .school is in charge of Principal 
R. H. Coe and a competent corps of instructors. 
The Board of Education comprises Charles W. 



Second grade ; Miss Isabel Donnelly, First grade. 
The system of education adopted is designed to 
qualify young men and women for commercial 
and practical business, or to lay the proper foun- 
dations for a professional life. Hence the course 
of study pursued in the lower grades prepares the 
student to enter any one of the three academic 
courses: Classical, Latin-. Scientific, or English. 
The first two cover a period of four years each, 
while the English course is completed in three 
yeans. Diplomas are awarded at the completion 
of any one of these courses. Especial attention is 
given to a preparation for college. The school 
year is divided into two terms, each continuing 
twenty weeks. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




HEXRY I,. MILLER. 
Henry L. Miller was one of the foremost mer- 
chants of Oxford, a public-spirited citizen, who 
grew up \vith the village and felt a deep interest 
in public improvements: who was prominent in 
the religious and social life of the place and a lib- 
eral supporter of the Congregational church, of 
which he and his wife were devout members 
Few residents of ( Hford exerted a wider and more 
salutary influence. His father, Epiphras Miller, 
an early .settler, whose sketch appears elsewhere, 
gave his son the advantage of a good academic 
education and the latter knew how to grasp the 
opportunities that were within his reach. His 
mother was the daughter of Dr. Samuel Baldwin, 
of Egremont, Mass.. who served the patriot cause 
of '76 and who was subsequently a member of the' 
Massachusetts legislature. Henry L., born in 
Oxford, May 15, 1815, was the eldest of four chil- 
dren, the others being Mrs Elizabeth M. Lathrop 
and Benjamin S. , both deceased, the former buried 
at Buffalo and the latter at ( )x- 
ford, and Mrs. Anna M. Can- 
non, of Cannons ville, Dela- 
ware county. Upon his grad- 
uation at the Oxford acade- 
my in 1S34, he assisted in his 
father's store, the same now 
occupied by William M. Mil- 
ler on Lafayette square. In 
1S35 he entered the dry goods 
house of P. Freeman tV Co.. 
Pearl street. New York, to 
acquire a thorough acquaint- 
ance with the business, return . 
ing to Oxford in 1833 and en- 
teringinto co-partnership with 
his father. On October 15, 
iS3g, he married Elizabeth, 
the eldest daughter of William 
Mygatt, to whom there were 
born four sons — William M. 
and John E., now residents of 
( )xford, Henry N., who died 
February 10, 1864. and Benja- 
min S,, of Binghamton. In 
1 84 1 he entered into partner- 
ship in the leather business 
with William Mygatt, putting 
into the store a large stock PhoiobyBurk 



of general merchandise, and upon the retire- 
ment of the latter in 1S51 continued the busi- 
ness alone for two years, when G. H. Perkins be- 
came a partner. In 186S William M.,his eldest 
son, entered the firm, and the business was con- 
tinued under the firm name of Miller. Perkins & 
Co. until the death of the senior partner, Henry 
L., which occurred March 10. 1SS6. Four years 
later William M. assumed the entire business, 
which he has conducted ever since. The death of 
Henry L. Miller was a deep-felt loss to the entire 
community. The flag which floated from a staff' 
on Fort Hill was lowered to half-mast, and on the 
day of the funeral business was generally sus- 
pended. The village trustees, the academy board 
and the bank directors passed suitable resolutions 
expressive of their admiration and esteem for their 
departed fellow townsman. Mr. Miller was a man 
of generous instincts, true to his friends and pos- 
sessing deep religious feelings. He was a leader 
in the devotional exercises of the church and to- 
gether with his wife a regular attendant at all 
services. As a business man he was systematic 
and painstaking. He was a fine penman and an 
expert book keeper. His ledger is said to have 
been a marvel of exactness and care^ audit is stated 
that it was more than once shown to the stu- 
dents in book-keeping at the academy as an ex- 
cellent example worthy of emulation. He was 
fond of travel and literature, and in iS8i he made 
an extended trip through England. France. Ger- 
many and Switzerland. He was especially inter- 
ested iu American tours, with which he was well 
acquainted. From 1S62 to 1S66 he was president 
of the village and for many years a trustee of the 
Oxford academy. He and his father-in-law at one 
time purchased a one-fourth interest in the First 
National Bank of < )xford, of which institution he 
was the cashier in 1865-67, and vice president in 
1867-79. Mrs. Miller was a w'oman of intellectual 
capacity, a leader in social affairs and the first to 
draw her purse in aid of deserving charity. She 
possessed a more than ordinary education for 
those days, being a fine Latin scholar and a stu- 
dent in French and Italian. In memory of her 
husband she gave to the Congregational society a 
handsome memorial chapel, dedicated February i, 
1SS8, two years prior to her death, which occurred 
February 5, iSgo. It was built in Queen Anne 
.style, 30x50 feet, resting on a foundation of rock- 
face blue stone furnished by her son, John E. 




WILLIAM M. MILLER'S RESIDliXLK 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SoUVEN'IR. 



Miller, and supporting an ornamental cupola. 
The interior is wainscoted in old English style, 
stained to imitate old cherry and neatly finished 
in hard oil, and is furnished with easy chairs and 
portierres. The windows are cathedral glass. A 
tablet in marble and bronze bears an appropriate 
inscription. The cost of the chapel and lot was 
S3,ooo. Mr. and Mrs. Miller rest side by side in 
Riverview cemetery. 

■William M. Miller is one of the best known 
among Oxford merchants. For thirty-five years 
he has been in trade in this village, reckoning the 
period of his clerkship. His father and his grand- 
father carried on the same busines.s — that of 
general merchandise, dry goods, groceries and all 
that is kept in a general store — years before him. 
Indeed, it was his grandfather, Epiphras Miller, 
who founded the business in iSoo; the history of 
which appears on other pages of this souvenir. 
The original store stood where the grandson now 
does business. It was twenty feet deep. From time 
to time it was e.xtended back from the street, until 
now it is seventy-four feet deep and twenty feet 
wide. Then the son, Henry L. Miller, came into 
the firm. Along in 1S52 the busmess passed into 
the hands of Miller &• Perkins, and in 1856 it was 
moved across the river into the old brick block 
still standing at the corner of Main street and Fort 
Hill square. In the spring of 186S William M. 
Miller became a partner and the firm was known 
as Miller, Perkins & Co. Then the business was 
brought back to the old place, where it has ever 
since remained. The death of the senior partner, 
Henry L. Miller, in 1SS6, led to no immediate 
change, the business being conducted under the 
same firm name until the retirement of Mr. 
Perkins in iSgo, since which time the grandson of 
the founder has carried it along until he has made 
it one of the largest in the village. At one time 
its patrons were scattered over an extent of 
country within the radius of a day's drive. That 
was before the railroads were put through from 
Binghamton to Albany on one side, and from 
Binghamton to .Syracuse on the other. Frequently 
large bills of goods were carted from this store 
over into Delaware county. Mr. Miller is a public 
spirited man to whom any legitimate enterprise 
which promises the promotion of the best interests 
of the community does not appeal in vain. He is 





.^ J^. 



I'lioto by (jraeil. THE .MlLLliK STUK.E. 



WILLI.AM M JIlI.I.lsK 

a director in the First National Bank, of Oxford, 
and is a large property owner both in village and 
farm real estate. When the opera house had 
proved a failure in the hands of a syndicate of 
local capitalists he took the property and is today 
the owner. He is a prominent supporter of the 
Congregational church society, of which he is also 
a trustee. He was born in Oxford, Sept. 28, 1840, 
and was graduated at the Oxford academy in 
1857. Within a year or two he entered his father's 
store as a clerk, in which capacity he remained 
until his admission as a partner. On July 17, 1S79, 
he married Emma E.. the daughter of B. M. 
Pearne, of ( )xford. Mr. and Mrs. Miller reside in 
a very plea.sant dwelling surrounded by pretty 
grounds located in the heart of the village and 
skirted by the lovely Chenango river. Mr. Miller, 
years ago was one of the active members of the 
fire department, first connected with the old Lady 
Washington company and afterwards with the 
Sappho hose company. Henry P. Miller, the 
oldest son, is at school at New Brunswick, N. J. 
The other two children, still at home, are Eliza- 
beth M. and Benjamin M. 

The Book Clubs. — One of the unique features of 
the literary life of Oxford for the past years, has 
been the two book clubs known as No. i and No. 
Book Club No. i was first started in Novem- 
\«:\\ i.'^66, with 2(1 members, Dr. Ayrault, Mrs. 
Will. H. Hyde and Mrs. Henry L. Miller being 
the first committee A membership fee of $2.00 
formed a fund for the purchase of books. These 
are passed from one member to another in regular 
order, every two weeks during the year. Then 
they are sold at auction. The proceeds and $1.00 
per member have formed the fund for each year 
thereafter. From time to time the number of 
members has been increased until now there are 
31, thus extending the time of sale and repurchas- 
ing of books. Nine years later, in 1S75, Book 
Club No. 2 was formed on much the same plan, 
with 2() members, Mrs. D. B. Smith, Mrs. Charles 
Fiennett and Miss Addie Baldwin being the first 
committee. Their membership has been restrict- 
ed to 21. and their limit of time to the year. These 
clubs have formed a prominent factor in the edu- 
cation of our citizens, bringing as they have a 
large list of books from the best authors into our 
homes at a comparatively trifling expense. 



14 



TJI1-: OXFORD HISTORICAL SoTVEXIR. 



The Citizens' Opera House was built in 18S7. by 
a stock company of citizens of Oxford organized 
for that purpose. The town was supplied with 
hall-!, but none having the conveniences necessary 
to bring to the village first-class professional en- 
tertainments. Sentiment demanded an opera 
house and the matter u-as taken up by a few citi- 
zens who determined that 0-\ford should be fore- 
most among her sister towns in that respect. A 
subscription was started for §2; shares, out of 
which grew the incorporation of the Citizens' 
Opera House Company, limited. Work was be- 
gun at once on the i)resent opera house building, 
located at the corner of Washington avenue and 
Taylor street. The structure was erected after 
modern plans, e.iclusively as an opera house on 
the ground floor, something very few villages and 
small cities possess. Xo pains or expense were 
spared to construct a building which, in all re- 
spects, should be etiual to a first class provincial 
opera hou.se. There was no restriction in the 
plans that would hamper the setting for any play 
which might be expected to come to a town of 
this size. The stage is the largest of any between 
Binghamton and I'tica; the dressing rooms are 
arranged to the best advantage and with an eye 
to the comfort and convenience of those who use 
them. The acoustic properties are excellent, no 
difficulty being experienced m hearing all that is 
said plainly in any part of the house. The re- 
served .seats are folding, upholstered opera chairs, 
and there is not a seat in the house which does' 
not give equally advantageous view of the stage. 





HAKkv TKW, iiana(;i<:r opera HorsE. 

Including the balcony, there are four grades of 
seats and the seating capacity is 600. The house 
is lighted by electricity and gas, and is furnished 
with an A-i piano. The arrangement of double 
entrances, one each side of the ticket office, and a 
vestibule leading directly from the street, is all 
that can be desired. There are also the side and 
property room entrances. In 
1S93, Mr. Wm. M. Miller pur- 
chased the building and 
placed the exclusive man- 
agement m the hands of Mr. 
Harry Tew, the present 
manager. Mr. Tew takes a 
great deal of pride in giving 
llie jjeople of ( )xford first- 
i;la--s entertainments and un- 
iler his management the op- 
era house has become a cred- 
i table institution and the en- 
tertainmentseasonismarked 
with the bookingof first-class 
shows. .Mr. Tew is a hust- 
ler and trouues which give 
I ixford creditable perform- 
ances are sure to be greeted 
with paying houses and to 
meet with fair and perfectly 
satisfactory treatment. Mr. 
Tew was born in Bucking- 
ham, England, and came to 
.America in May, 1868. He 
U-turned to his old home in 
l.:i,i;land in December, 1S69, 
Miming hack in March, 1870, 
when he settled in < )xford, 
and soon built up a paying 
painting and house decorat- 
ing business in which he is 
engaged at the present time, 
having, within the past two 
years, included the retail 
branch of p.imts and paper, 
being the sole representative 
of the well known manufac- 
turers and exporters, Long- 
man C.V Martinez, 207 Pearl 
St., X. Y. He was one of the 
original subscribers to the 
opera house company, and 
acted as manager of the 
house from 1890 until it came 
into the hands of Mr. Jliller, 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL S:)UVENIR. 



prior to which 
time the condi ■ 
tions were not 
such as to give 
him that exer- 
cise of personal 
judgment which 
is necessary to 
secure a suc- 
cessful and 
profitable man- 
agement. Mr. 
Tew is a zealous 
and enthusias- 
tic Mabon, being 
a member of 
the Oxford 
lodge and chap- 
ter and the Mal- 
ta commandery 
of Binghamton. 
He is an exempt 
fireman, having 
served two 
terms of seven 
years each in 
the fire depart- 
ment, the first 
in the Sappho 
Hose Co., and 
the second i n 
the Steamer 
company, in 
which he held 

prominent ofti- I'hoio i,y i-,rai-it l il i. ri i i/.f 

ces, as well as 

.always managing the public entertainments which 
invariably netted a handsome profit to the com- 
pany. 

The Auxiliary Y. M. C. A. was organized ( )ct. 
lo, iS(/), at a meeting at the academy chapel 
called by Mr. Estelow. Mrs. H. A. Curtis was 
called to the chair as temporary presiding officer. 
Plans for aiding the Y. M. C. A. and carrying on 
auxiliary work were discussed at length. The 
following were appointed a committee to confer 
with the Y. M. C A. : Mrs. Dr. Gleason. Miss 
Skinner, Miss Newion and Mrs. Wm. Frisbie. 
The next meeting was held Oct. 15th, at which 





HAkkV IKW .-^ Ri:.^iDE.\CE. 



time the permanent organization was secured by 
the election of the following officer.-: president, 
Mrs Dr. J. W. Thorp; vice president. Miss Hattie 
Gleason; secretary, Mrs. H. A. Curtiss; treasurer, 
Mrs. C. B. Parsons. The executive committee; 
Mrs. S. S. Stafford. Mrs. B. G. Greene, Mrs. Geo. 
Fletcher, Mrs. J. R. YanWagenen, Mrs. William 
Clarke, Mrs. D. A. Gleason, Mrs. R. W. Taft, 
Mrs. George Mallory, Mrs. F. A. Beadle and Mrs 
Wm. Miller. The first essential work was to 
assist in raising a Y. M. C. A. fund ; and to carry 
out this work the east and west sides of the river 
were placed in charge of the several members of 
the auxiliary, assigned to the respective territories. 
The auxiliary gave a reception on the opening 
night of the Y. M. C. A. rooms, the 
success of which gave double 
assurance of what the ladies 
will do towards securing to the vil- 
lage a Y. M. C. A. building. Dur- 
ing this the first fiscal year, the 
auxiliary has rai.sed nearly, if not 
quite, a hundred dollars. The 
,' present officers are: president. Miss 
;;j.5i*V Hattie Gleason; vice-president, 
•■••>■ Mrs. J. C. Estelow; secretary, Miss 
Helen M. Yan Wagenen ; treasurer, 
Mrs. C. B. Parsons. 



Electric Lights. — < )xford boasts of 
as efficient an electric light plant 
as any town ; and the residences 
and public buildings generally use 
it. The streets are well lighted 
with arc lights. Years ago the 
board of tru-itees who voted to put 
up ten oil lamps were deemed ex- 
travagant. The electric plant is 
located on a stream whence water- 
power is obtained (steam also being 
used), two miles south of the vil- 
lage. 



i6 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



The First Congregational Church. — In 1792, about 
two 5'ears after the first log cabin had been built 
within the present limits of Oxford, Uri Tracy 
came to make his home in the new community. 
He was a Presbyterian minister and had labored 
as a missionary among the Indians. A man of 
liberal culture, an alumnus of Yale college, his 
influence was most helpful in shaping the intel- 
lectual and religious character of the town. He 
took a leading part in the establishment of the 
academy and was its first principal. He served 
the town and county in several important official 
stations, such as postmaster, county clerk, county 
sheriff and county judge, and was the representa- 
tive in congress from this district for three terms 
of two years each. Prior to the formation of any 



trustees of Oxford academy, and apart from his 
ministerial labors he seems to have been a helpful, 
uplifting factor in the life of the town. His home 
was on the farm northeast of the village, now 
owned and occupied by Mr. James Burke. The 
first trustees of the church were Jonathan Bush, 
John Xash, Uri Tracy, Solomon Curtis, Edward 
Robbins, Nathan Carpenter, Ephraim Fitch, 
Joshua Mersereau and Lyman Ives. The first dea- 
con was Solomon Curtis. His signature is ap- 
pended to the first minutes of a church meeting 
preserved in the earliest book of records now ex- 
isting. At this meeting, held Februarv 16, 1808, 
it was "voted that this church do request Mr. Eli 
Hyde, a candidate for the gospel ministry, to take 
the pastoral charge of this church and of the con- 
gregation worshiping with them in this place." A 




FORT HILL SUUARE Top X'l 



\V.\Sin\iJ riJX PARK (Thr 



Photos by Burke. 

church in Oxford he seems to have been recog- 
nized as virtually the pastor of the community, 
and when at length a church was organized he 
took, as was to be expected, a leading part in its 
formation and in its early history. It is not 
known at what time regular religious services 
were established in Oxford, nor can the date of 
the organization of the first church be ascer- 
tained. The ecclesiastical society auxiliary to the 
church was legally organized at a meeting held 
for this purpose September 19, 1799. This meet- 
ing was held in the academy, which at that time 
was on "Washington Square," not far from the 
present residence of Mr. J. E. Packard. It was 
through the labors of the Rev. John Camp, a gradu- 
ate of Yale college, that the church was formed, 
and he became its first minister, his pastorate con- 
tinuing about three years. He was one of the 



committee was appointed to arrange for an ecclesi- 
astical council to ordain Mr. Hyde to the ministry 
and to install him as pastor of the church. This 
council was held June 23d of that year, at which 
date Mr. Hyde's pastorate began. Up to this time 
twenty two persons had united with the church, 
and their names constitute the earliest roll of mem- 
bers now extant. The list is as follows: James 

JIlTCHEL, A(;NES MlTCIIEL, EUEK ScOFIELH, SoLO- 

MON Curtis, S..\r.\h Ci'Rtis, Moses Bennett, M-\ry 
Ben.nett, Llcv Smith, Hannah Gary, Kaziah 
Bai.l'om, Massy Brooks, Sarah Holmes, Hannah 
Noble, Moses Keyes, Margaret Keyes, Abigail 
Stephens, David Tracy, Mary Tracy, Ele.«ur 
Smith, Isaac Foote, Anna Foute, Rachel Morris. 
The following extracts from the earliest records 
indicate something of the character and life of tfie 
church at the time thev were written. At a church 



THI-: OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



meeting held April 6, 1809. it was decided that 
when any candidate for membership presented 
himself "it would be expedient under the existing 
circumstances of the church that the person should 
be examined at a church meeting or conference re- 
specting the reason of his hope and the views he 
has in making a profession of faith in Christ." At 
the same meeting it was "voted, that no new mem- 
ber shall be received into the church unless he has 
been publicly propounded a fortnight previous to 
the time proposed for admission." Also it was 
"Voted, that the church will not receive into oc- 
casional communion members of other churches 
who shall have resided in our vicinity more than 
a year and a half without having presented a letter 
of dismission to this church." At a church meeting 
Xov. 29. 1810 — " The church after having looked 
to God for special direction in the choice of a dea- 
con proceeded and made choice of Amos A. Frank- 
lin to the office." At a meeting after lecture Jan. 
13, iSii — "Brother Franklin publicly accepted his 
appointment as deacon and was publicly conse- 
crated to the office by prayer." For twelve )-ears 
or more from the time of its organization the 
church worshipped in the Academy. This build- 
ing stood origi- 
nally on Wash- 
ington Sciuare. 
as above stated, 
near Mr. Pack- 
ard's residence 
It was moved m 
1806 to the lot 
on the corner of 
Merchants' and 
Green Streets 
where the home 
of Miss Helen 
L o b d e 1 1 now 
stands. After 
leaving the 
Academy build- 
ing the congre- 
gation worship- 
ped at the home 
of Deacon 
Franklin, which 
stood probabl)' 
on the site now 
occupied by the 
residence of Dr. 
J. W. Thorp. 
When on ac- 
count of the 
growth of the 
congregation it 
became neces- 
sary to find a 
larger place of 
meeting. Dea- 
con Franklin 

finished off the upper part of his cabinet shop, on 
Merchants' Row, and gave the use of it to the 
church. This shop was afterwardsconverted into a 
dwelling and is now the home of George Mallory and 
Clarence A. Hoffman. In 1S22 work was begun upon 
the present church building which was formally 
dedicated July 31, 1823. The site was given by Mr. 
Ira Wilcox, and the original cost of the building was 
about four thousand dollars. Extensive improve- 
ments were made in 1S57, and in 1S73 over Sio,- 
000 were expended in remodelling the building 
throughout and adaptmg it to the requirements of 
modern church life. The chapel, built in 1S87 by 
Mrs. Henry L. Miller as a memorial of her lius- 
band, is a very useful and highly valued addition 
to the equipment of the church, affording an at- 
tractive and convenient meeting place for the .Sun- 
day school and for the different organizations con- 
nected with the church. The church parsonage 
was purchased in 1866. 



The first book of records contains what is prob- 
ably the original " Confession of Faith and Cove- 
nant" of the church. It is an uncompromisingly 
Calvinistic document, and reflects faithfully what 
was regarded as the orthodox faith of a century 
ago. This doctrinal confession has in the course 
nf time been greatly modified, and at present those 
uniting with the cWurch are not asked to give as- 
sent to any formal creed, reasonable evidence of 
loyalty to Christ being the only condition of mem- 
bership. The church has been from the beginning 
Cfingregational, but at different periods in its his- 
tory it has affiliated with the Presbyterian denom- 
ination. This seems to have been the case at or 
near the time of its organization as the name of 
the church society, from 1799, has been "The As- 
sociated Presbyterian Society of Oxford." This 
name does not indicate that the church was Pres- 
byterian. It means that although a Congrega- 
tional church, it was "associated " with neighbor- 
ing Presbyterian churches in the work of their 
district presbytery, and to a certain extent in de- 
nontinational work. In iSi2 it united with the 
Uiaion Association, composed of Congregational 
churches of this vicinity. In 1827 it united with 




.\. U. WA.XD'S KESIDE.XCH. 



the Chenango Presbytery. In 1882 it withdrew 
from Presbytery and united yvith the Oneida, 
Chenango and Delaware Congregational Associa- 
tion of which it is now a member. 

The following is a list of the pastors of the church 
with the years of their service, so far as can be as- 
certained : Rev. John Camp, 1799 ; Rev. Eli 

Hyde, i8oS-'i2; Rev. Edward Andrews, 1818 ; 

Rev. Marcus Harrison, 1822: Rev. Joseph 1). Wick- 
ham, D. D.. iS23-'25; Rev. Elijah D. Wells, 1825- 

; Rev. Charles Gilbert, 1829; Rev. [ames .-\bell 

1830 ; Rev. George W. Bas^ett. 1837 : Rev. 

Arthur Burtis, D. D., 1839-45; Rev." William M. 
Richards, 1846; Rev Charles Jerome, i847-'49; 
Rev. Henry Callihan, iS50-'f)i ; Rev. Elliot H. Pay- 
son, 1862-70; Rev. Charles F. Janes, 1870 ; 

Rev. Henry P. Collin, 1S73 ; Rev. Henry N. 

Payne, 1S79 ; Rev. Benjamin F. Bradford, D. 

D.,' i8Si-'89;Rev. Howard Billman, 1889-93 ; Rev. 
Ward T. Sutherland, D. D., 1894 . The mem- 



TlIK OXFORD IIISTORKAI, So 1/ \' K N' I R 



bers of the church n umber two hundred and t wentv- 
onu. Of these thirty are non-residents The ofti- 
fers of the churcli are: — Pastor, Ward T. Suther- 
land, 1). I).; Deacons, (ieorge H Turner, Dr J. 
W. Thorp, Benjamin M. Pearne, Dr. E. L. En- 
sijjn ; Sunday School Superintendent, Dr. 1^. L. En- 
sign; Trustees, A. D. Harrington. Wni. M. Miller, 
Clarence A. Miner. Dr. R. K. Miller, C. () Wilcox, 
A. I). Wands: Treasurer H A. Curtis; Clerk, 
Gilbert M Stratton ; Chorister, H. M. Pearne. 

The Rev. Ward T.Sutherland, D. D., was born in 
Towanda, Pa. , April iti, 1857. His father, the Rev. 
.'Vn.lrew Sutherland, was a Methodist ])astor and 
presiding elder in the I'-ast Genesee (afterwards 
the Genesee ) Conference in Western New York 
and Northern Pennsylvania. Under the Metho- 
dist itinerancy the family home was removed suc- 
cessively from 'J'owanda, Penn.. to Trumansburg, 
X Y., Newark, Geneva and Lima, N. Y. Me pre- 
pared for college at (ienesee Wesleyan Seminary, 
in Lima, and entered the University of Rochester, 
gradu.'il ing in iSTSfvoin tlu- r),-H<si.'nL-oiirsc, He 



years. .Solomon Hundy also held this office and 
was active in the interests of the school. In 
1865 Mr. J. W. Thorp took charge of the school, 
continuing in the superintendency until 1S71. 
when he went to New Y'ork to pursue medi- 
cal studie.s. Dr. George Douglass was Superin- 
tendent for several years, but on his leaving Ox- 
ford to live in Brooklyn, Dr. Thorp again took up 
the work, remaining in charge until about 1S83, 
when Mrs. Bradford, wife of the pastor of the 
church, became Superintendent. In i8Sf)Dr. K. 
L. Ensign was chosen to the superintendency. 
which position he has filled up to the present time 
with the exception of 1893, when Jared C. Estelow 
took charge of the school. The officers of the 
school at present are: Superintendent, Dr. E. L 
Ensign ; Assistant Superintendents. Rev. Ward T. 
.Sutherland, 1). D., and Miss Hattie Gleason ; Sec- 
retary, Miss Edith Saunders; Treasurer, Mr. H. A. 
Curtis; Organist. Miss Emma Sherwood; Superin- 
tendent of the Home Department, Mrs. B. M. 
Pearne. The enrolled membership of the school 
Ian. I, i8i)7, was 1S5. The average attendance is 
86. 




Photc, by Binki- 



i:.\,ST MAIN .STREET. 



taught for six years in the State School for the 
Deaf at Rochester, N. Y. In 1884 he entered the 
Yale Divinity School to prepare for the ministry 
and was graduated in 1SS7. His pastorates have 
been in .Xshland, Wisconsin. iS87~'Sy; Meadville, 
Penn., 1889-1)4, and since September, '1)4, in 0.\- 
ford, N. Y. 

The Congregational Sunday School. — I'he early 
records of the Sunday school have not been pre- 
served and nothing definite can be ascertained 
with regard to its early history. Mrs. Hannah F. 
Cary, now living in Le.xington, Ky. , was a mem- 
ber of the school when the church worshipped in 
the room over her father. Deacon Franklin's cabi- 
net shop. This was before the year 1S23. Deacon 
Franklin was at that time superintendent of the 
school, and for many years after the church was 
built. He was followed by Mr. A. M'atson. Mr. 
Henry L. Miller was its Superintendent for many 



Christian Endeavor.— The young people of the 
Congregational church were called together at the 
parsonage, Monday evening. May 14, 1888, for 
the purpose of organizing a Society of Christian 
Endeavor. Dr. B. F. Bradford, the pastor of the 
church, acted as chairman of the meeting and 
Miss .Anna Arrison as secretary. A committee of 
live was appointed to draft a constitution and by- 
laws, which were adopted at the ne.xt meeting. 
The first officers were: President, J. C. Estelow; 
vice-president, Mrs. J. W. Harrington; corres- 
ponding secretary. Miss Anna Arrison ; recording 
.secretary, Miss Ida Hill ; treasurer. Miss Jennie 
Randall. J. C. Estelow was succeeded as presi- 
dent by the Rev. Mr. Billman, pastor of the church. 
At the first meeting of the society twenty persons 
signed the pledge. The membership has .since 
increased until at the present time they number 
forty-one — thirty-four active and seven associate 



TIIK OXI'-ORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



"J 



members. The present officers are: President, 
Mi.ss M Genevieve Dodge ; vice-president, Mr. 
Oilbert Stratton ; treasurer. Mrs. C. C Bull; cor- 
responding secretary, Miss Kmma Miller; record- 
ing secretary, Miss Elizabeth Miller. 

Ladies' Missionary and Aid Society of the Congre- 
gational Church. — There has been an active ladies' 
society in the church for many years, though the 
precise date of its organization is not known. In 
1875 the society was reorganized under the title of 
the Ladies' Benevo- 
lent Society, which 
was its cognomen 
until 1894. when it 
was thought that bet- 
ter results might be 
■obtained by a divi- 
sion into the Ladies' 
Society, for parish 
work, and the La- 
dies' Missionary .So- 
ciety, for the distinc- 
tively missionary 
work, both home and 
foreign. The two so- 
cieties worked side 
by side until i.'^ijy, 
when they were 
again united under 
the name of tlie La- 
dies' Missionary and 
Church Aid Society. 
The officers are: 
President, Mr s. 
Ward T. Sutherland ; 
vice-president. Mrs. 
A. D, Harrington; secretary 
treasurer, Mrs. B. G. Greene. 

Mrs. Charles W. Sherwood conducts a large mil- 
linery .store at the corner of Main and Canal 
streets, overlooking Lafayette square. This is 
probably the most favorable corner for business in 
the village, and as Mrs. Sherwood has consider- 



able room tor the display of her goods, which she 
keeps fully stocked with the latest styles, making 
trips to New York three and four times a year for 
the purpose of obtaining the best and newest 
goods and patterns, she is favored with the best 
class of custom m the village and vicinity. Her 
trade has been constant and this enables her dur- 
ing the busy season to employ considerable help, 
four the year around and sometimes as many as 
eleven, including the dressmaking department, 
which is an important part of her business The 
view shown in connection with this sketch was 




Photo by Graeff. 
Mrs. K 



MRS 



Gray 







A_ ■! 







H. J. (iALPlN'.S KOOK STORK. 
Photo by Burke. 



.MlLLl.NERV STORE. 



taken before Mrs. Sherwood put in the large 
autumn stock from which it will be seen that she 
carries a very large assortment at all times. She 
has been engaged in the dressmaking business for 
ten years. Six years ago she opened the millinery 
department where she now is. The increase of 
patronage has been such as to demand larger 
quarters, and so it is that as soon as the store 
which is now being prepared for her in the 
llaight Building. Lafayette square, is ready, she 
will have considerably more room and will add 
largely to the stock. This comprises everything 
new in the millinery line, also dress goods, ready- 
made wrappers and all kinds of ladies' and 
children's furnishing goods. 

Henry J. Galpin, the stationer and book dealer in 
< i.xlord. has been in the business since 1893. It was 
established in 1.550 by his father, J. B. Galpin, and 
conducted by him up to the time of his death, 
when the subject of this sketch took possession. 
Mr. Galpin was born in O.xford May 10, 1S50, and 
was educated at the Oxford Academy and at Fal- 
ley Seminary. Fulton, N. Y. (1S70-71). He was 
connected with the Oxford Times forseveral years. 
On Sept. 12, I S94, he married Mrs. Eva B. Wil- 
liams of Fulton. .Mr. Galpin keeps a full line of 
school supplies, wall paper, stationery and the 
works of the latest and most popular authors. 

Loyal to the Union. — At a public meeting, July 
•24, 1S62, patriotic speeches fired the people in be- 
half of the Union, and it was resolved, "that in 
view of the present aspect of the rebellion, the 
possbile chance of foreign interference in our 
national affairs and the disastrous results to follow 
upon the destruction of the government, we 
believe all the energies of the nation should be 
devoted to the prosecution of the war." One 
thousand dollars was raised with a hurrah! 



'JIII-; OXI-OKI) IIISTDKICAL SOI \-K\lK. 



The Oxford Baptist Church was organized July 
14, 1815, in a school-house about one mile south of 
the present village of Oxford. The constituent 
members were Nathaniel Havens, Mrs. Clara Ha- 
vens, iJaniel Tracy. Jr., Mrs, Polly Tracy. John 
Dodge. Mrs, Hetsy fiifford, Mrs, Abigail Ilackett, 
Mrs. Polly Gordon. John Hull, Mrs. Hannah Hull, 
John Perry, Mrs. Mary Perry, Hial 'I'racy, Mrs. 
Susan Tracy, Ira Hurlinganie, Mrs. Polly John- 
son. For many years the places of worship were 
the above schoo<-house, and elsewhere. In 1825 
the land was purchased on which the present 
meeting-house stands, the conveyance being made 
by Gould Hoyt and Sabrina. his wife, for the con- 
sideration of $Soo. The first house of worship 
was dedicated January 9, 1S34. It is described as 
45 feet wide and 60 feet long. The gallery was on 
three sides, with the choir located where the pul- 
pit stands in the present building. 'I'he pulpit 
was between the two entrance (lof)rs. with a (loor 



tures, especially in the New Testament: it has 
steadily supported the vanous organizations ap- 
proved among Baptist Churches for the instruction 
of men in the Word of God. and for the spread of 
the gospel in the world. We now look to the fu- 
ture, believing fully that our work as a Church i.s 
not yet complete, but on the contrary, that much 
is yet to be done, and that growth in strength 
will show growing victories for our Lord, wrought 
by this people. Names of pastors and date of set- 
tlement: l^evi Holcomb, i8i(j; Nathaniel Otis, 
1825; Robert Adams, 1832; Washington Kingsley, 
1833; J. D. K. Bestor, 1838: Jabez Swan, 1839; 
Elisha G. Perry, 1842; Geo. W. Stone, 1844; Wm. 
S. Smith, 1848; Elijah Haldwin, 1851; Nathaniel 
Ripley, 1853; W. T. Potter, 1857; L. K, Spafford, 
1864; A. Reynolds, 1870: [ohn C. Ward, 1873; R. 
A. Patterson, 1875; W. R". Baldwin, 1877; L. F. 
Moore. 1882; B. F. Williams. iS8r>: P. ]). Root, 
1887; L. T. (Hffin. iSSr): C. M. Parsons. 1892. 
.Vames of deacons: Hial Trncv (,,hn McNeil, 




Phot., by Hiirkci, Al.li.v.M 

5 feet high, a square, plain front, with doors at 
each side and winding stairs leading up to them. 
The sides of the room had five wall pews, with 
seats on three sides of them and a door. The 
seats in the center were slips with door.s. The 
seats faced the entrance, with a long seat in front 
of the .slips called the " anxious seat." The house 
was lighted by candles. According to the custom 
then prevailing, there was preaching in the morn- 
ing and afternoon, with an intermission between. 
The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. 
Jabez Swan, of revered memory, the text being 
Genesis 28:17, "How dreadful is this place! 
This is none other but the house of (lod, and this 
is the gate of heaven." The present house of 
worship was remodeled from the original building 
in 1879. during the pastorate of Rev. Wm. Bald- 
win. The expense was $7,o<;o. and the rededica- 
tion was made September 3, 1879. During all the 
years from 1815 until now (1897), this church has 
had iio serious division in the membership. It 
has loyally defended the truth, as understood by 
its members, to be taught in the Christian scrip- 



.1 I Kfc.1', I . 

John Perry. Randall Maine, Ira Noble, Jeremiah 
York, B. Randall, Wm. L. Jacobs. Samuel Root, 
Obadiah Tower, D. G. Barber. W. R. Mowry, J. 
D. Smith, A. D. Gates, C. M, Gray. Names of 
church clerks: Daniel Tracv, Jr., Randall Maine, 
.Samuel Root, A. D. Gates, P. (}. Jacobs. 

Curtis B. Parsons, pastor of the Baptist church, 
was born in Shelby, N, Y., May 21, 1841, and was 
graduated at the University of Rochester in 1862, 
and at the Rochester Theological Seminary in 
1870. He was ordained and .served his first pas- 
torate at Farmer Village, N. W, 1870-74. His 
subsequent pastorates were: Nunda, 1874-76: 
Dunkirk, N. Y., 1876-82; North East, Pa., 1882- 
S4: Knowlesville, N. Y,, 1884-85; Geneseo, N. Y., 
18S5-92; Oxford, N. v., 1892. 

Christian Endeavor, Baptist Society.— In July, 1886, 
when the I'nited Society of Christian Endeavor 
was comparatively a new thing, a society was 
formed in the Baptist church called "The Willing 
Workers," under the leadership of Rev. B. F. 



Till-: (iXFOKlJ HISTORICAL SOCVKXIR. 



Willianis. Mr. George Keyes and Miss Ada Will- 
iams being among the principal supporters. Af- 
terward, when the Christian Endeavor work 
became more widely known, the name of the 
society was changed and the Christian ICndeavor 
pledge was adopted. There has averaged about 
forty active and eight associate members from 
that time on. The society has been loyally sus- 
tained by the members and warmly approvefl by 
the older members of the church. The church 
was wired for electric lights by the Christian En- 
deavor society, and the cost for keeping the church 
lighted has always been promptly paid by them. 
Their prayer meetmgs each Sunday evening are 
well attended by old and young. The present of- 
ficers are; I^resident, Lee Bixby; vice-president, 
Frank L Root; secretary, Mildred Smith; treas- 
urer, Anna Rartle; recording secretary, Harriet 
<.:. Jacobs. 

The Foreign Mission Circle, Baptist church, was 
organized in 1875 by Mr.s. Jane E. Ward, wife of 
a former pastor, Rev. J. C. Ward. Mrs. Ward 
saw that "woman's work for woman" promised 
great things for the future, and worked with untir- 
ing zeal to arouse a 
missionary spirit in 
the women of the 
church. The circle 
aims to understand 
the spiiitual condition 
of women in foreign 
lands and to cultivate 
a .spirit of self-sacri- 
fice among its mem 
bers. Meetings are 
held monthly for pray- 
er and study. Officers 
are; President, Mrs. 
Derrick Race; vice- 
president, Mrs. I'. Ci. 
Jacobs; secretary and 
treasurer, Mrs. Frank 
Roxby. 

The Woman's Home 
Mission Society, I'ap- 
tistchurch, wasorgan- 
ized in 1887 bv Mrs. 
P. V. Root. Person- 
ally acf|uainted with 
officers of the Wo- 
man's Home Mission 
Society, Mrs. Root 
had become deeply 
interested in the work 
of home missions and 
imparted much of her enthusiasm to the circle. 
Meetings are held monthly for work and the 
study of home mission lessons. The motto. 
"Christ in Every Home," makes the aim of the 
circle to gain information concerning the needs of 
the work, and to aid in supplying those needs, by 
offerings and sending clothing and supplies to the 
different fields. The officers: President. Mrs. 
James Roys; vice-president. Mrs. \). Walker; 
secretary and treasurer. Mrs. C. H. Parson.s. 

The Ladies' Aid Society of the Cxford Baptist 
church was re-organized November 17. 1887, to 
aid the church in every way possible. The officers 
that year were; President. Mrs. James Smith; 
secretary. Mrs. Carrie Keyes; treasurer. Mrs. B. 
Woolerton. The following statistical information 
is of interest; i88(>-vi— Mrs. lliffin, president and 
Mrs. Charles Church, treasurer; receipts, $113.28. 
TH92— President, Mrs. IJ. Bartle; treasurer, Mrs. 
Carrie Keyes; receipts, S60. 1893— Mns. I). Bartle, 
president; Mrs. Beadle, treasurer; receipts, $60. 
1S94— Mrs. Bartle, president; Mrs. Beadle, treas- 




Wll.LIA-M .M Vi..\T r 



urer; receipts, $79 60. 1895 — Mrs. W. K. Mowry, 
president; Miss Fanny Mowry, treasurer: re- 
ceipts, $91.17. i89fj — Mrs. J. Philly, president: 
Mrs. A. J. Keyes. treasurer; receipts, $91.67. 
1897 — Mrs. W. R. Mowry, president, and Mrs. A. 
J. Keyes. treasurer; money received up the first 
day of September was $45. which has been used 
to pay the se.Nton. For three years the society has 
furnished dinner at the church on town meeting 
and on election days, and we trust they have been 
a help to others as well as themselves. Number 
of members at the present time, 43. 

William Mygatt was an early settler who 
achieved success on strict business principles and 
through far-.seeing investments. The foundation 
of his fortune were the profits of a large tannery 
and an extended leather and .saddlery trade, 
which he established on locating in O.xfoid. In 
tho.se days, without railroads and telegraph, Ox- 
ford, although a distributing point for a wide sec- 
tion of country, was far away from business 
centers. Large private accumulations were then 
rare except along the seaboard. Hence the gen- 
ius of William Mygatt in accumulating the con- 
siderable fortune that 
he did was notable. 
I'oreseeing the com- 
mercial development 
of New York city, 
then a comparatively 
small place and the 
consequent increased 
valuations, he invest- 
ed largely in bank 
stocks, so that at his 
death a great portion 
of his wealth compris- 
ed shares in a large 
number of succes.sful 
metropolitan banks, 
bought at par and in 
many cases trebled in 
market value. He also 
ti vested largely in 
lilroad stocks and 
cal estate. His an- 
cestry is traced to the 
earl y scttl e ments 
around Boston harbor, 
(-.'ol. Eli Mygatt, a dis- 
tinguished officer in 
the Continental militia 
during the Revolution 
and a member of the 
State Assembly for 
twenty-three succes- 
sive years following the close of the war for 
independence, was his grandfather. William 
Mygatt was born in New Milford, Ct., Oct. 25. 
17S5. We have no record of his early life, except 
that Mr. John K. Miller, his grandson, has the 
commission of Captain in the cavalry service in 
the war of 1812, which his grandfather received 
from the Oovernor of Connecticut. He had 
mounted his horse to join his regiment when he 
received the news of the close of hostilities .so 
that he had no o])portunity to draw his sword. 
On Jan. 29, 1817, he married Caroline, the 
daughter of Cyrus Xorthrup of New Milford, who 
was a descendant of .Sir Thomas Welles, the first 
governor of Connecticut; and in December, 1818. 
the couple, having one child, Elizabeth, settled in 
their new home in Oxford. Mr. Mygatt at once 
started a tannery which stood on a site east of 
what is now Washington Park and in the rear of 
the residence now occupied by Oeorj^e B. Coe. In 
connection with the tanning business he con- 
ducted a dry goods trade, which for a time was 
run under the name of Mygatts & Hyde, Henry 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




Photo bv Gr 



iKtKN S klvblUENCE 



Mygatt. his brother, and Austin Hyde being his 
partners. In 1841 he retired from mercantile life 
and up to the time of his death, which was occa- 
sioned by a fall in his S3d year, his investments 
occupied hi?; sole attention. He enjoyed remark- 
ably good health and mental vigor to the last. 
Surrounded by a large family, to whom he gave a 
great deal of his time, his tastes were domestic. 
He reared a circle of girls to whom he gave a lib- 
eral education, sending them away from home to 
the best schools. Very rarely was he absent from 
his fireside, except when called to New York on 
business or to Connecticut on an occasional visit. 
He was scrupulous in business methods, but never 
oppressive and contributed largely to church and 
charitable purposes. His wife was a woman of 
lovable disposition, devoted to the training of her 
children and while foremost in social affairs, was 
strongly attached to her home. She was born in 
Xew Milford, Ct., July 27, 1797, and died May 15, 
1866, her husband's death occurring on Feb. 5, 
1B68. The children, who are all dead, were Eliz- 
abeth ( Mrs. Henry L. Miller), born Nov 17, 1.S17 
— died Feb 5, 1S90; Frederick, born Aug. 19. 1819 
—died March 27, 1823: Sarah A. (Mrs. Dr. Alfred 
B. Coe). born Oct. 16, 1S21 — died March i, 1893; 
Emily X., born Aug. 26. 1823 — died Mav 15, 1856; 
Susan M.. born Oct. 29, 1825 — died Feb. 21, 1826: 
Caroline L (Mrs. Rufus J. Baldwin), born Jan. 31, 
1827— died Jan. 23. 1S95: Jane A. (Mrs. Dr. 
George Douglas), born Feb. i, 1829 — died Nov. 
24, 1S94; Julia M. (Mrs. Charles E.Vanderburgh), 
born May >. 1S32— died April 23. i.Sfi3. 

Lines of Travel. — The first mail carrier was 
Charles Thorp, and ihe first mail route, over 
which a weekly mail was 
carried on horseback up 
to 1 8 1 9. was between 
Cooperstown and Bing- 
hamton (then Chenango 
Point). Then a stage 
route was formed by Mr. 
Willoughby. connecting 
Utica and Binghamton, 
who " began with a stage 
wagon and two horses." 
making w-eekly trips, soon 
after changed to semi- 
weekly. In 1S21 George 
Munsell, of Binghamton, 
purchased this route, run- Photo by Burke. 



ning semi - weekly and 
himself driving. In 182; 
he put on a post coach 
and four horses and con- 
tinued as one of the pro- 
prietors for many years. 
In 1S22 a stage route was 
formed from Catskill to 
Ithaca. About this time 
Ethan Clarke purchased 
the Stage House, and 
later on owned an inter- 
est in some of the stage 
lines In 1823 passengers 
and mail were carried 
twice a week between 
Oxford and Albany, and 
in 1329 the Oxford and 
Cooperstown line of 
stages left Oxford daily, 
Saturday excepted. In 
1836 stages ran daily 
through Oxford between 
Binghamton and Utica. 
In January, 1S49, ^ line 
of four- horse coache.s 
was established between 
Utica and Deposit, run- 
ning daily coaches 
through O.Kford. In .\ugust. 1S51, a daily line be- 
tween Oxford and Deposit was started by G. M. 
Bartle and I. Slater. In July. 1S58. a dailv stage 
connected Oxford with the Syracuse &• Bingham- 
ton R R. at Chenango Forks, and in 1866 Peter 
Packard started a line to Unadilla to connect with 
trainson the Albany i^- Susquehanna R. R. Later 
it was changed to Sidney, then to Bainbridge as the 
road was extended to those places. The year 1 870 
saw the last of the four-horse mail coaches running 
out of Oxford, as the Midland (N. Y., O. & W. > 
R. R. ran its first passenger and mail train inta 
Oxford, February 21, 1870. Finally, on December 
19, 1870, the first train over the l>.'. L. & W. R R. 
arrived at O.xford, and the era of mail coaches 
was ended to give place to the more rapid travel 
by rail. With two railroads touching Oxford, 
there is still the prospect of the third opening 
direct to Syracuse, which would afford a better 
and more direct outlet both east and west, via the 
New York Central, and there are people living in 
(Oxford who will see the road ojjened. During 
forty years the Chenango canal carried the bulk 
of commerce between Oxford and the outside 
world. The canal connecting Binghamton with 
L^tica where it united with the Erie, being ninety- 
seven miles long, was authorized by an act of the 
legislature passed February 23, 1S33. The work 
was begun the summer of that year and was 
fini.shed in 1837. It was 40 feet wirle at the water 
surface. 28 feet wide at the bottom and four feet 
deep. There were 1 14 locks, each no ft. long, 1 5 
ft. wide. The cost of construction was .St. 737.- 
703. The line of the canal entered the village 
from the north and the south, parallel to the river 




THE O.XFOKD CRE.\MERY. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



and passed alonjc what are now known as North 
and South Canal streets. While the canal was in 
use it made ( )xford a point for distributing mer- 
chandise for thirty or forty miles east, it being the 
head of the most convenient driving roads into 
Delaware county and the most available point on 
the stage lines. But the railroads changed all of 
that and the canal was no longer practicable. 

First Universalist Church.— The historj- of this 
society dates back to July 3th. 1833. when a num- 
ber of persons met at the school house in the vil- 
lage for the purpose of organizing a religious so- 
ciety to be called and known by the name of the 
" First Universalist Society in the Town of Ox- 
ford." Anson Cary and Luke Metcalf were ap- 
pointed moderators' and D. Denison. clerk. Luke 
Metcalf. Philip Bartle. Daniel Denison, Anson 
Carv. Oliver Richmond. Ira Doflge, Jabez Robin- 



Rev. J. L. Scoboria was bom in St. John. X. B. 
He is one of two sons of Joseph and Eleanor Sco- 
boria, the other son, Charles Q. Scoboria, being a 
physician in F;ik River, Minn. At an early age 
Mr. Scoboria. with his brother and parents, moved 
to Boston, Mass., in the vicinity of which was 
spent his boyhood. He received his early educa- 
tion in the common schools of Chelsea. In rSSi 
he graduated from the theological department of 
Tuft's college, and October 30 of the same year 
was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry 
in the First Universalist church of Somer\ille, of 
which he was a member. In December following 
be was married to Anna Preston, daughter of 
Thomas and Mary Preston. Father, mother, two 
sons and a daughter constitute the happy family 
circle. Mr. Scoboria's pastorates have been: 
Orleans, Mass., 1852-83; New (iloucester. Me., 




Photo by Graefli. CLINTON 

son. Thomas Brown and Henry Balcom were 
elected trustees. Chas. Perkins was elected clerk 
of the society, James Perkins, treasurer and Cal- 
vin Cole, collector. The first place of worship 
was the school house. The church was erected in 
1836 and '37 and was dedicated March 22d, 1S37. 
Outwardly the church remains unchanged, but the 
inside was renovated and modernized in i832. and 
it is undergoing extensive repairs at the present 
writing. The clergymen who have served the 
society as pastors are: Rev. Nelson Doolittle, 
■833-34; Rev. Skeel, 1S35: Rev. J T. Goodrich, 
1836-1849; Rev. A. W. Bruce, 1:350-51 ; Rev. 
Chas. E Hewes. i852-';6; Rev. J. G. Bartholo- 
mew, i856-'58; Rev. A. J. Canfield,*i859; Rev. B.' 
L. Bennett, 1859-60; Rev. Daniel Ballou. 1361-63; 
Rev. F. B. Peck, 1364-69; Rev. J. W. LaMoine, 
iS72-'74; Re%'. R. F. Kingsley. 1^75-77; Rev. J. 
M. Clark, i879-'3o; Rev. Uri Mitchell, 1S31-85. 
and i887-'88; Rev. Amanda Deyo. i389-'qi; Rev. 
Charles Palmatier, 1892-93; Rev. L. M. Clement, 
June. 1894, to June. 1895. The present pastor, 
Rev. J. L. Scoboria, commenced his pastorate 
September, 1895. 



STREET. 

1884; East Jaftrey, .\. H., 1--5-37; Henniker, N. 
H., 188S-S9: We.stmoreland, N. H., 1890-95; set- 
tling in Oxford September, 1895. 

The Laciies* Aid Society, First Universalist 
Church, was organized March 24, iSgr, its object 
being to aid in the supjwrt of the church and its 
missionary endeavor. The first offcers of the so- 
ciety were: President, Mrs Ruth Buckley; \-ice- 
president, Mrs. C. L. Webb; secretary. Mrs. W. 
A. Clarke: treasurer, Mrs. Samuel Cline. The 
society, though small, has, by the activity of its 
members, not only accomplished its object, but 
has greatly assisted in the maintenance of the 
church. The present officers are : President, Mrs. 
S. H. Mead; Vice President, Miss May Webb; 
Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Lemira Lewis. 

The Fort Hill House, a three story building with 
large columns, together with the store of Rufus 
Baldwin, the hat store of Peleg Glover and the 
cabinet shop of John V. Washburn, standing on 
the hill at the east end of the river bridge, were 
burned on the morning of May 13, 1339 



THE OXFORD HIST(JRICAL SOUVENIR. 




\VM, (i. SANDS, M. I), 

William G. Sands.— Bainbridge, in this county, 
was the birthplace of William (i. Sands, and 
Koveniber 5th, iSio, the date of his birth. His 
father, Obadiah Sands, afterwards changed his 
residence to Meredith, in the county of Delaware, 
from which place the son was at school in both 
the Delhi and O.xford academies, and finished his 
academic course at the latter in 1830 He began 
and completed his study of medicine with Dr. 
Perez Packer, then well known here for skill and 
s.iccess in his profession. Having been admitted 
to practice he opened an office in the hotel known 
as the Fort Hill House, which not long afterwards 
was destroyed by fire. Austin R )use and Samuel 
R. Clarke were in practice here and William 
Mason and Henry Mitchell at Norwich, and he 
soon reached a prominent position in his profes- 
sion, as their worthy associate. After a success- 
ful practice for more than twenty years, he with- 
drew from its active pursuit, but continued to be 
called as counsel, in which capacity his advice 
was much sought by his brethren. He was mar- 
ried October 2(1, iS;,c). to S Eliza, daughter of 
Henry Mygatt. Dr. Sands was elected in 1846, as 
one of the members from this county to represent 
it in the Assembly. In his political association he 
acted with the Democratic party, and was its 
nominee for Congress in 185.S, in this district, 
where a Republican majority was almost a fore- 
gone conclusion. After his withdrawal from the 
active pursuit of his profession. Dr. Sands took 
much interest in political and financial questions 
and was a close observer of public men and well 
informed in regard to public measures. He held 
his opinions, both in his professional practice and 
iitherwise, with a firm grasp. In the later years 
of his life he was much occupied with the care of 
a considerable estate of his own, and as guardian 
and trustee of the estates of others, in which 
capacity he rendered valuable and useful service, 
with great i)robity and fidelity. He died on the 
14th day of June. 188,,, and his wife. July 2d. 1890. 
Both survived two daughters of the marriage. 
The third and youngest, who survived the par- 
ents, and died not long since, was joined in mar- 
riage with Joseph K Packard, who resides upon 
the old homestead on Washington Park, with two 
daughters and a son of the first marriage, and the 
wife of a second. 



Henry R. Mygatt.— Henry R. Mygatt was bom 
in Oxford, N. Y., April 10, 1810, and was the son 
of Henry Mygatt, who came here early in the cen- 
tury from New Milford. Connecticut. His mother 
was Sarah S:ephens Washburn, who was a native 
of Massachusetts, and died some years before the 
son reached his majority. He w'as prepared for 
college at Oxford Academy when David Prentice 
was the principal, and had among his mates at 
school, Horatio Seymour. Ward Hunt. John W. 
Allen, Henry W. Rogers and others whose names 
became prominent in the records of the state and 
nation. After about two years as a student at 
Hamilton College, he entered and was graduated 
from Union with Henry S. Randall, Benjamin 1'. 
Rexford. (leorge D. Beers and Robert C. Living- 
ston, names familiar in official and jjrofessional 
life to a generation not long jjast. He at once 
began the study of law in his native village with 
James Clapp, who had been a student in the office 
of Aaron Burr, and who was well accounted for 
learning and integrity. Mr. Mygatt's certificate 
to practice as an attorney in the Supreme Court 
of this state, bearing the name of John .Savage, 
Chief Justice, has date at Albany, January 18, 
1833. _ He began practice at once in his native 
village and continued the .same there for forty 
years and until constant and persistent devotion 
to his work compelled a reluctant withdrawal 
from the active pursuit of the profession which he 
so greatly loved and honored. A life long friend, 
who had known him intimately and often met him 
in practice, has left on record his estimate of the 
chief elements of his professional life in these 
words: "His success was due to honest, hard 
work, to an energy that never tired, a tenacity of 
purpo.se which never yielded except to the man- 
date of a court of last resort, combined with integ- 
rity never even tainted with suspicion." Mr. My- 
gatt was married Dec. 2. 1S35. to Esther Maria, 
daughter of John Tracv. sometime Lieutenant- 
Oovernorof the state. Their home on Washing- 
ton Park, for many years betore his death, dis- 
pensed a generous a'nd delightful hospitality, well 
known beyond mere local limits. His practice of 
the law, which reached the Supreme Court of the 
nation, was pursued with a constancy and ability 
which brought a well earned income During 
many years a considerable part of this was de- 
soted to the educational and religious welfare of 




Ul.NKV K. ilV( 



Co]j!<-d from a Pail 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOl'VICXIR. 



his native town not only, but reached out to objects 
of a like nature in places quite remote. His many- 
smaller gifts were dispensed with a generous hand 
along the pathway of his busy life. His frequent 
benefactions to Oxford Academy, of which for 
nearly forty years he was a trustee and, in turn, 
secretary and president, included for some time a 
fund set apart for the education of meritorious 
students who needed help. Mr. Mygatt never 
sought political place. At the solicitation of many 
he was once elected Supervisor of his town, when 
its welfare seemed to call for his service. There 
were times when a high judicial place seemed to 
require only the reaching forth for him to obtain 
it. The high character and learning of Mr. My- 
gatt were well and fitly recognized by Hobart Col- 
lege, in the bestowal, in i.-<7o, of the honorary 
■degree of Doctor of Laws. He ever had a helpful 
hand and kindly word for his younger brethren in 
the law. His death occurred the "ist day of 
March, 1875. Judges and lawyers who came to 
his burial testified of his worth; better still the re- 
gretful tears of those who had known and felt the 



that, though yet in its infancy, it has representa- 
tives in almost every state and territory, and 
many abroad. The Oxford branch, as a regis- 
tered .state study club, is also favored in its con- 
nection with the .State University, from which 
it has drawn a traveling library upon each course 
adopted. Its membership is limited to fifteen, 
including the usual officers and committees, the 
few rules necessary to its management being in- 
cluded in a short constitution and by laws. Reg- 
ular semi-monthly meetings are held from Oc- 
tober to June, compri.sing papers, readings and 
discussions, one original paper being expected 
from each member during the course. In the 
three years since organization two full courses o^ 
study have been completed, viz : Five Represen- 
tative American Authors and The Knglish Drama 
and Shakespeare It is in the latter subject that 
the best work of the club has been shown, both in 
the preliminary study of the earlier dramatists, 
as well as in the intelligent interpretation of the 
principal plays of Shakespeare, to all of which two 
years of work have been given. A course on Ven- 




JO.SEPH E. PACKARD'S RESIDENCE. 



touch of some thoughtful benefaction, lifting them 
with renewed hope to higher vantage ground in 
the life-battle. It told anew, how much better it 
is to be writing while we may. our names on the 
plastic tablets of living, grateful hearts, than to 
leave them only to be traced in bronze, or cut in 
cold, pale marble above our graves. 

The Round Robin Reading Qub. — The Ox- 
ford Chapter of the Round Robm Reading 
Club is but a modest member of an organiza- 
tion claiming for itself illustrious pedigree, for 
it is the later product of that generous culture 
which has given the Xew Century Club of Phila- 
delphia international reputation as a social and 
educational force. The Round Robin Reading 
Club was founded in itm. the purpose in view 
being the promotion of systematic literary culture 
through home-reading and study. To this end, 
schedules upon the subject elected are issued by 
the director in Philadelphia and each member is 
urged to submit the result of their work to her 
for criticism, individual elfort being further stimu- 
lated by the regular meetings of the club. The 
popularity of the system is indicated by the fact 



ice is planned for the next year, to begin in Octo- 
ber. The record of the " Round Robin" has thus 
far justified the hopes of those who, in its incep- 
tion, aimed to help in perpetuating along the 
broadening lines of modern culture those tradi- 
tions of a past day and generation which have 
made Oxford an honor to her historic name. 

The Tool Factory.— There are many excellent 
opportunities for locating industrial enterprises in 
Oxford. Not many years ago a hoe and edge 
tools factory, which had a world-wide reputation, 
was conducted on a large scale, turning out a 
hirge annual production. The late William M. 
Manin was the secretary of the company, and 
later, part owner of the establishment. Mr. .Mar- 
tin was at one time railroad commissioner of the 
town which office he resigned when he went to 
Binghamton. He sold out his interest in the fac- 
tory to engage in the hardware business. He was 
trustee of the Congregational church and the 
academy. He was born in Cowentry in 1831 and 
died in Binghamton in i-^Sfj, where his widow, 
W.I0 has many friends in Oxford, is still living. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



F.G.Clarke Blue Stone Co. (< 'xford, Chenango this belt an inexhaustible deposit of this stone was 
county, N. Y.)— Of all the various stones used in found in the Chenango Valley at Oxford, where 
this country for building and pavement purposes, nature seems to have been particularly favorable 
none have obtained a wider range of distribution in creating a blue stone unexcelled in quality. 
than the New York Blue Stone, being used in color or dimensions by any other deposit in the 
nearly every state in the L'nion, and a city or so-called "Hudson River" or "North River" belt, 
town of any importance in the eastern, middle or Owing to the improved methods of (|uarrying. 

modern facilities for handling and transportation, 
it can be placed in distant markets at a moderate- 
price. 

Blue Stone is a hard sand stone, classified by 
geologists as fragmental rock of the upper Devon- 
ian age and of the Hamilton group. It is a fine- 



southern states, where it has not been used would 
be hard to name. 

While New York Blue Stone is accepted evei-y- 
where on its own merits, but little is known by its 
consumers of its geological formation, the extent 
of territory in which it is found, and the methods 



of quarrying and preparing it for market. The S^^'^d, compact, even-bedded stone of more 



first Blue Stone Ouarry was opened about 1S40 in 
Albany county, .\. Y., where small, thin layers of 
flag, easily obtained from the upper strata of the 
quarry, were taken out for local use. 

.\ early a decade passed before any shipments 
were made to New York and adjoining cities, 
where its .superiority for side-walks, curbing and 
cross-walks was quickly recognized, and it rapidly 
displaced the mica slate (lagging and gneiss-rock 
curbing, the product of Connecticut, then in gen- 
eral use. 

As trade increased, more quanies were opened 

along the Hudson River, and the stone became 
known as •• Hudson River Blue Stone" (and later 
as '•North River Blue Stone"), on account of the 

locality where first found and from its color. The 
constantly increasing demand exhausted the quar- 
ries of easy access to the river transportation, 
necessitating the opening of quarries situated at 
greater distances from the river, materially in- 
creasing its cost at that time. 

A state geological survey demonstrated that 
this so-called " Hudson Kiver Blue Stone" belt ex- 
tended across the state from Albany and Kings- 
ton on the east to the Delaware River on the south 
and the Chenango River on the west, and within 



or less hardness, composed principally of silica or 
quartz, cemented together by a silicious paste and 
contains very little argillaceous matter, the color 
being generally of a bluish or dark gray, depend- 
ing on the locality. The deposits lie in quarry 
beds, ranging from one inch to many feet in thick- 
ness, the top beds producing the thin stone used 
for flagging. In many cases the thick strata or 
lower beds can be split along planes parallel to 
the bedding by means of wedges, but a few quar- 
ries, the Oxford quarry in particular, also produce 
a liver rock of such tine grain and uniform texture- 
that it can be worked equally well in all direc- 
tions. Owing to its formation, blue stone is very 
durable, has great power of resistance to com- 
pression, is so compact that it absorbs very little 
moisture, drying quickly after rain or snow, has 
the hardness to resist abrasion and wears well. 
Being even bedded, it pre.sents a good smooth sur- 
face; but unlike granite, slate or the limestones, 
it never becomes slippery and dangerous when 

used for side-walks. 

A crushing test of stone from the ( Ixford quarry 

made under the supervision of the assistant en- 
gineer employed in testing material for the pe- 
destal of " Liberty Enlightening the World," in 
1SS4, showed as follows: 



TH1-: OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




THU F. G. CI.AKKK BI.UE STONK CO. 



28 THK OXFORI) HIS 

First cube, 3 in. x 2,936 in. .x 2,786 in. ~ 8,180 square inches. 

Second cube, 3 in. x 2,770 in. x 2,776 in. = 7,699 square 
inches. 

Third cube. 1 in. x 2,888 in. x i,aoj in. 8,09^ square 
inches. 

No. I bore a strain of 103,700 lbs. befcire crushing on its 
quarry bed. 

No. 2 bore a strain of 103,600 lbs. before crushing on its 
quarry bed. 

No. 3 bore a strain of 98,.i4o lbs. before crushinR, not on 
its quarry bed. 

The lirst stood a strain of i.'.677 lbs. to the square inch. 

The second stood a strain of 13.472 lbs. to the square inch. 

The third stood a strain of 12,152.7 lbs. to the square inch. 

After testing the stone from this i|uarry in 1 890, 

Hon. John C. Smock, economic geologi.st of New 

York State Museum, Albany, N. V., made this 

report: 

Specific gravity 2.7,, 

Weight per cubic foot ,68.9 lbs. 

Absorption of water i.,, per cent. 

Freezing and thawing test \i, effect. 

W. E. Gifford, chemist. New York City, ana- 
lyzed the stone as follows: 

«>!'';» 77.56 

Alumina ,^,5- 

Oxideotlron ^.,q 

Oxide of Manganese 09 

''""« 34 

Magnesia ,22 

Potas.sa 2 ,. 

S'"la '. .90 

Water ,^, 

Undetermined matter and loss 57 

The quarry at ().\ford was opened about 1S74 
and operated in a small way until about 1 SSo, when 
Mr. F. G. Clarke commenced operations and 
a few years later the firm of F. G. Clarke & Son 
was formed, which firm was succeeded in 1.S90 by 
the F. G. Clarke Blue Stone Co. (not incorporat- 
ed). This company operates the largest two 
blue stone quarries in the United States, also two 
smaller quarries, all situated in the town of 
Oxford. 

The main c|uarry is near the village of O.xford 
and produces principally large platforms and 
heavy liver rock up to about five feet in thickness. 
The face of the quarry is about one thou.sand feet 
in length, and the rjuarry is thoroughly equipped 



TdRICAL SorX'E.VIR. 

with steam derricks, steam drills and other mod- 
ern quarrying machinery. 

The Coventry quarry is located in the southern 
portion of the town of O.xford. about one mil. 
from Coventry station, and has a frontage of over 
one thousand feet. This quarry produces medium 
sized platforms, heavy rock and all kinds of 
flagging and small stones. 

The two smaller quarries are operated mainly a- 
flagging quarries. 

The mill, situated in the northwesterly portion 
of the village, near the main quarry, is thoroughly 
equipped with saws, planers, rubbing bed, pneii 
matie tools, etc., and is Ughted by gas. Here the 
stone are manufactured into mill stock or finished 
ready for placing in the building. 

A car, planned to carry a sidewalk stone twenty 
five feet by fifteen feet, has been constructed, 
which enables the company to ship stones .. , 
greater size than could be transported on an ordi 
nary platform car. 

The F. C. Clarke Blue Stone Co quarry almos; 
all of the stone handled by them, securing a uni 
formity of color and c|uality, avoiding the man\ 
variations which necessarily occur when the stone^ 
are collected from many localities and put on thi 
market from a general depot. 

The F. G. Clarke Blue Stone Co make a special 
ty of large platforms, heavy dimension rock and 
finished work, taking contracts for the cut stone 
for a building dressed ready for setting in place 
They employ a large number of skilled workmen 
and have produced some very fine work, amont 
which is the stone work in the Oxford Bank ami 
the Trinity Memorial Church. Binghamton. N. Y. 
Many of the largest sidewalks in New York 
City, Brooklyn, Boston and Philadelphia have 
been furnished from the ( )xford quarry. This 
company can ship stone direct to any railroad 
point via rail, or to coast cities by water from New 
York City, and are prepared to name prices for 
stone delivered on cars at Oxford or at destination. 



THE OXFORD IHSToRICAL SOl'VEXIR. 




THE F. (i. CLARKE BLUE STUNE CO. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

|1 V. M:UklKK.| 

ON the first day of July, 1S23. the following 
resolution was adopted by the board of 
trustees: ••Resolved by a majority of the 
trustees and inhabitants as aforesaid, that the 
freeholders of the village of Oxford be and they are 
hereby authorized to levy a tax not exceeding- 
hve hundred dollars upon the freeholders and 
inhabitants of the village of ( )xford for the pur- 
chasing of a suitable fire engine and hose, ladders 
and fire hooks, and erecting a fire engine house 
according to the act of incorporation. At the same 
meeting of the board of trustees it was resolved 
that every dwelling should be provided with one 
or more •■leather tire buckets" for the benefit of 
the village in case of fire and to be used for no 
other purpose. In case of a lease, the tenant could 
charge the expense of the bucket or buckets to 
the landlord and deduct the amount from the rent. 
On October 2r, 1S23, the tax was assessed and 
levied ; and at this meeting it was resolved that 
Garrett H. \'an Wagenen and Ransom Rathbone 
be empowered to purchase in New York or else- 
where a fire engine witl; the necessarv hose and 
apparatus upon the credit of Oxford' village, at 
a price not exceeding three hundred and twenty- 
five dollars On March 5, i,S24. a resolution was 
passed by the board of trustees levying a tax of 
five hundred and ninety-six dollars' for the pur- 
chase of the fire engine. On March S, 1824, the 
first fire company was organized bv the appoint- 
ment as firemen : Daniel Shumway.' Austin Hvde, 
Erastus Perkins, George Hunt, I'ri Tracv,'lr., 
Charles Tracy, Amos A. Franklin, Anson "M. 
Howard, John \"an Wagenen, George Farnham, 
Thomas G. Newkirk, Romeo Bowea, Henry 
Mygatt, Franklin Tyler. Erastus Miller, Cyrus 
Tuttle, Ira McNeil, Daniel Peck, Asahel I. Hyde, 
Asher Harmon and Marcus Sherwood. 

On April 15, 1S24, there was appropriated fifty 
dollars to build an engine house on Fort Hill, nea'r 
the '-gun house." On May 16, i,S25. the board 
provided a key to be deposited in the engine house 
for the purpose of unlocking St, Paul's church in 
■order to give the alarm in case of fire by rin^ine 
the bell. ' ^ *■ 

The First Reservoir.— On May id, 1836, a resolu- 
tion was voted on by the freeholders and inhabi- 
tants of the village authorizing the trustees to 
build a reservoir and repair the engine. The res- 
en-oir was built of timbers, 30 ft. long, 10 ft. wide 
and 7 ft. deep, and lathed and plastered, but it 
proved a failure. On May 31, 1S37, the village 
voted on raising five hundre'd dollars for rejiairing 
the old engine or buying a new one, procuring two 
poles for carrying buckets, and repairing ladders. 
The vote was probably against the resolution. 
NOTICE or coKi'oR.vrioN .meeti.m;. 
In pursuance of the request in writing of fiftv- 
eight electors of the village of Oxford the free- 
holders and inhabitants of the said village are 
hereby notified to meet at the hotel of Thomas 
Morris, in said village, on Saturday, the oth day 
of August, next, at 2 o'clock in the 'afternoon, fo'r 
the purpose of raising a tax to purchase a site for 
the engine house and of the erecting a suitable 
house and of jjurchasing a fire engine of sufl!icient 
power and dimensions with the necessary appur- 
tenances. 

-, , ^ , , Henrv R. Mvg.^tt. President. 

Oxford, July j3, 184?. JOHX Va.vW.-\GENE.-^ 1 

C. A. B.VCON I 

Eliakim Northkcp ;■ Trustees. 
C. F. T. Locke | 

C. Walker J 

The records from May 31, 1S37, to August g, 
1S45, cannot be found. On August g, 184^. at a 



meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants held 
at the hotel of Thomas Morris, it was '•Re- 
solved, that it is expedient to re-organize the 
fire department of the village of Oxford: that the 
fire_ engine belonging to the village of Oxford is 
unfit for use and is entirely inadequate to the pres- 
ervation of the property ot said village against the 
ravages of fire.' The'following persons were ap- 
pointed a committee to report a't a future meeting 
what should be done upon the subject of the call 
of this meeting: John Tracy, Ira Wilcox, Henry 
L. Miller. John V. Washburn, G. X'anderlyn. 
Rufus Baldwin, S. McKoon, E. Clarke, David 
Brown and Geo. A. Gary. It was -'Resolved that 
the committee report in two weeks, August 23rd, 
also [hat this meeting adiourn to meet at the same 
place, August 23, 1S45, 'at 2 o'clock p. m. On 
.■\ugust 23, 1,^45. at an adjourned meeting of the 
freeholders and inhabitants of the village of 
Oxford pursuant to adjournment, a quorum of the 
board of trustees being present, the committee 
appointed the gth inst. reported they were not in 
possession of sufficient information 'to make a full 
report and wished two weeks further time, which, 
on motion, was granted The meeting adjourned 
to meet at the same place on Saturday, September 
6, 184=;, at 2 o'clock D. m., at which date it was 
held at the hotel of Thomas Morris, the following 
trustees being present: Henry R. Mygatt. C. F. T. 
Locke, E. NorthrupandJ,\'anWage'nen. Thecom- 
mittee reported through John Tracy, their chair- 
man, that they had not re'ceived sufficient informa- 
tion to report. On motion of H. Vanderlyn it was 
resolved unanimously that the sum of si.x'hundred 
dollars be levied by tax on the freeholder.'- and in- 
habitants of this village for the purchase of a new 
fire engine with needful hose and appurtenances. 
It was ••Resolved, that the trustees of the village 
be hereby authorized to dispose of the old fire en- 
gine belonging to this corporation for such a price 
and on such terms as the major part of the trustees 
shall deem proper, and apply the sales moneys to 
the purchase of the fire engine, hose and its ap- 
purtenances." 

The Morris Hotel Fire.— On October 3, 1845, the 
hotel of Thomas Jlorrls was set on fire and on 
October 4th the trustees offered a reward of one 
hundred dollars to be paid on the conviction of the 
per.son '•who last night set fire to said hotel, to be 
paid to the person who shall discover the offender, 
and that the secretary sign and cause to be printed 
and posted fifty copies of a notice of said reward 
and draw on the treasurer for the expense of 
printing and posting the same." Also: ••Resolved 
that C. F. T. Locke, J. Van Wagenen and C. A. 
Bacon be a committee" to purchase the fire engine 
and hose required by the vote of the electors of 
tnis corporation at their last meeting and that 
before they complete a purchc^se they submit their 
action and advice in the premises to this board." 
Meeting to Raise More Money. — In pursuance of a 
vote of the trustees of the village of Oxford, the 
freeholders and inhabitants of the said village are 
hereby notified to meet at the hjtel of Thomas 
Morris in said village on Monday, the 2nd day of 
February, next, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, "for 
the purpose of raising an additional tax to pur- 
chase fire engines, repairing and erecting engine 
houses, procuring ladders, buckets, fire hooks, all 
other necessarj' apparatus and repairing resei-\'oir." 

Henry R. Mvgatt, President. 
January 16, 1S46. Henrv Balcom 1 

K. Northrop | 

C. F. T. Locke ; Trustees. 

C. Walker | 

JOHX VanWagenen I 
At the above meeting, February 2, 1S46, it was 
unanimously " Resolved that the trustees of said 
village be and they are hereby authorized to raise 
in addition to the sum of six hundred do lars. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



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THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



authorized to be raised at a meeting of the free 
holders and inhabitants of the village of Oxford 
held on the 6th day of September last, two hun- 
dred and fifty dollars — in whole eight hundred 
and fifty dollars — said amount to be raised by tax 
and said amount to be appropriated by the said 
trustees of said village to tae purchase of a fire 
engine or fire engines, repairing and ejecting en- 
gine houses, procuring ladders, buckets, fire 
hooks, all other necessarj' apparatus and repair- 
ing reservoir in such manner as to said trustees 
may seem proper.' At a meeting of the trustees 
at the oflSce of Henr>' R. Mygatt. March 20. 1-40. 
Joseph G. Thorp. Daniel Dudley and John Y. 
Washburn, a committee from the present Fire 
Engine Co . were present and expressed to this 
board the wish of said company to take charge of 
the new engine or one of the engines intended to 
be purchased by said board under the present 
charter of said company, and upon such terms as 
may be agreed upon by and between said com- 
pany and the board. At a meeting of the trustees 
duly held at the store of Charles F. T. Locke, 
April 2;th. 1S46. Henrj- Balcom. Clerk, pro tern., it 
was stated that ■•Henry Waterman of Hudson, 
would furnish this corporation with one engine to 
be delivered at Albany in October, next for Sj'yj. 
said engine to have -% inch cylinder, man i5 
men, weigh 1900 pounds, throw a one-inch stream 
of water 1 70 feet and near 400 gallons per minute : 
to be made in the best manner o:' St, iJomingo 
mahogany, well polished, with brass mountings, 
with wrenches and pipes and all the apparatu.s 
complete." On motion, it was resolved "that the 
committee on engines be and a^e hereby author- 
ized to purchase said engine of Mr. Waterman." 
At a meeting of the tnistees held July 15. 1846. at 
the store of A. Wat -son. it was resolved "that J. 
G. Thorp and F. A- Sands be a committee to en- 
quire into the expediency of putting the new en- 
gine into the care and keeping of :he present 
engine company and report at the next meeting." 
At a meeting of the trustees on the evening of the 
25th of August. 1S46. at tl^e store of A. Watson, 
present. J. G. Thorp, C. A Bacon, A Wa'^son. 
Wm. McCalpin. W. Roberts and F. A Sands, it 
was "Resolved, that whereas, in consideration of 
representations made to this board by a committee 
of the Oxford Fire Company, duly appointed by 
said company, that the said fire company will 
fully equip themselves according to their by-laws, 
and in filling up the vacancies hereafter existing 
in their company %vill be governed by the reason- 
able advice of this board, and do all that they, as 
a fire company, should do. provided the new en- 
gine lately purchased by the Trustees of the Vil- 
lage of Oxford, shall be placed in their hands for 
good keeping, the safety of the village and the 
use of the .said company , therefore, be it further 
Resolved, that the new engine be put into the 
hands and keeping of the f Jxford Fire Company, 
to be used by said company for the safety of the 
village, to be subject at all times to the control of 
the trustees, and nothing in this resolution shall 
be construed so as to invalidate the right and 
title of the corporation to said engine." (ya Oct 
5, 1846, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees, a 
committee of three was appointed to examine the 
sitnation and condition of the present engine 
house, and if they find it necessary to have it re- 
moved from its present location, to select another 
location, and also to provide some place for the 
keeping of the old engine, and report at the next 
meeting. 

Locating the ^igine House — At an adjourned 
meeting held <Jct. 7, 1*46, the committee reported 
that Messrs. S. & C Lewis will allow the trustees 
the p-ivilege of placing their engine house on 
their lot back of the Baptist church. It was "Re- 
solved, that the President be authorized to con- 



tract for the removal of the engine house to the 
lot back of the Baptist church, at a price not ex- 
ceeding ten dollars " J A. Thorp, Wm. McCal- 
pin and W. Roberts were appointed a committee 
to examine the engine hou.se after it is placed on 
its new location and to contract for the necessary 
repairs and painting the same. At a special 
meeting fJct 8. 1846 it having been ascertained 
that objections are made to plating the engine 
hou.se on the lot of S. & C. Lewis, as voted at the 
last meeting, and Ira Wilcox having consented 
that it may be placed on his lot. between the Pies- 
byterian church and the house occupied by Charles 
Hackett, it was "Resolved, that the engine hou.se 
be removed to said lot. and that the President be 
authorized to contract for the removal of the en- 
gine house to the said lot at a p'ice not exceeding 
ten dollars"; also. • Resolved, that the Treasurer 
be instructed to pay to Henry Waterman, of H ud- 
son, X. Y , the sum of S^-O^-" At a meeting of 
the board held at the store of E. F. Wilcox, it wa 
resolved to pay Washburn & Beemis Sn for pair- 
ing engine hou.se: also Daniel Dudley, ^z'i (■. 
putting addition on engine house; aLso S3 2; I' 
freight on engine, and $10 for moving engir 
house. On March 13, rS48, a commifee was i: 
struAed to purchase for the fire department one 
piece of hose 12 feet long and one piece 50 feet 
long; also to contract for a suitable hose cart and 
a feeder or trough for the use of ihe engine. On 
May 19. 1S52. the trustees were authorized to sell 
the old engine at public or private sale. On Xov. 
r, 1-53. the electors of the village voted to ra;-- 
Si'-Kj for repairs on engine and hose cart 

The Niagara Company. — The following is a Ir- 
of memt)ers of the new engine company, calle 
the " Niagara Fire Company, No. i." approved h 
the board Xov. r. iS?;: Henry Vanderlyn, jr.. I- 
P. Xewkirk. F. B. McNeil, F S. Youngs. X. B. 
Eccleston. J. W. Glover, John Smith, E. \'. 
Green C. W. Sweet, John Hubbard. D. B. Smith. 
M. Gomes. M. Higgens. Wm. Xoris, R A. Cran- 
dall, S. Bolls S. H. Millard, Chartes P. Smith, H. 
Packer. L. Xewkirk. A Bly. J B. Wheeler, E 
Puffer, L. P. Wagner. D. P. Holdridge, F. G. 
Clarke. R. T. Davidson, J. Allen. Sam Rogers. 
W. B. King, E H. Hawley. W L. DanieU, A. .M. 
Lathrop. T. Baker. W. F. Allen, Wm. Gillman. J. 
A. Wis well. H F. Balcom. C. B Maynard, E. M 
.May, H. Lyon. E. C, Wilcox, E. M. Osbum, R. 
Tracy, Thos. Pettis, B. Potter, J. Rathbone. 

Lady Washington Engine. — On Oct i, 1858. the 
"Lady Washington' engine was received fro rri 
Mr. Waterman of New York city for inspection, 
and as it proved satisfactory a draft was forward- 
ed to him for .S325. On receipt of the " Lady 
Wa-shington." it was noticed that she had a nict 
painting on the tower and that the " No. i " was 
also nicely lettered. It was then resolved that 
the Lady Washington should be called Engine No. 
I and Niagara called No. 2. The fire department 
was reorganized, the Lady Washington No. r, 
having 27 members and the Niagara No. 2 44. 
The chief engineer, assistant engineer, clerk an'i 
treasurer were elected April 4. 1559. On Apri! 
22, 1S59, the present building was rented and all 
of the fire apparatus was housed there. The offi- 
cers then were John R. Clarke. Chief Engineer ; 
W. S. Thompson. Assistant: N. B. Ek:cleston. 
Clerk; Wm. Balcom, Treasurer. On Oct 13. 1559, 
it was resolved that the Board of Trustees, in 
their own behalf and as representatives of the cit- 
izens of Oxford, tender their thanks to the mem- 
bers of the 'Lady Washington Fire Engine Co." 
for their liberality and public spirit displayed in 
the procuring of their new and beautiful hose 
cart. 

A f>n»y»t, — On the 4th of July, 1839, there was 
a celebration at f >xford, when there was a contest 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



between a company from Norwich and the Niag- 
ara and the Lady Washington of Oxford, as to 
which engine would throw a stream of water the 
highest over the "liberty pole," which was 105 
feet high and stood 150 feet from the canal, along 
the dock of which the engines were placed. The 
Niagara was manned by the hea\-iest men in town 
and just as her stream of water reached the 
"brush" on top of the pole — "BangI" her air 
chamber had burst. 

Additional Reservoirs. — On June 2, i860, a con- 
tract was made with Newkirk & Co., to build 
three resen-oirs for the sum of $662. On April 13, 
1861, 450 feet of new hose, one discharge pipe, 
two branch butts, 4 cut offs and two nozzles were 
purchased at a cost of $52; On Feb. 29, 1864. 4 
ladders were purchased at a cost of S38.21. 

On March 14, 1678. Niagara Hose Co. became a 
separate organization. 

The New Engine House. — On March 27, 1867, a 
vote of the electors of the corporation was taken 
for the purpose of levying a tax of Si, 600 for the 
purchase of site and erecting a suitable building 
for a new engine hou.se, 76 voting for the tax and 
32 against it. The same date it was resolved by 
the board to purchase the Fort Hill building at a 
sum not exceeding Si,;00, and that a tower be 
erected on the building at an expense of S450. 

Sappho Hose Co was organized Feb. 27, 1873, 
with I ; members. 

On May 13, 1873, the Lady Washington sold 
their hose cart to the corporation for S50. 

In is5o, the Silsby Pump was placed in the 
Lewis mill and 1.200 feet of iron pipe was laid and 
put in condition for fire purposes. 

A New Steamer. — On the 20th of April, 1888, 
the inhabitants voted an appropriation of §3,000 
for a steam fire engine, and in November follow- 
ing the steamer was received. The fire depart- 
ment then consisted of the Steamer. Sappho Hose, 
Lady Washington, Niagara Hose, Hook and 
Ladder Co. and 122 men. 

Chief Engineers. — John Ray Clarke, 1859; Amos 
A. Hitchcock, 1S60; A. F. Bartle, 1861 ; Solo- 
mon Bundy, 1862-63; F- P- Newkirk. 1864-66; 
W. H. VanWagenen, 1S67; A. J. Hull, i868-'69; 
C. M. Brown. 1170: W. A. Martin. 1871: L. A. 
Knott, iS-2-74; J. G. VanWagenen, 1875-76; 
LeRoy Coville, 1^77 ; A. S. Lewis, 1878; H. O. 
Daniels. i-7'y-";4: J. R. Glover, i33=; H. O. 





JOHN E. MiLLfcit » REslDENtE. 



E. L. GRAEFF (One of the Viewers for THE SouvESIR). 

Daniels, i386; C. Hemingway, 1887; J. W. Cud- 
worth, 1888: J. R. Glover, 1889-' 90; Charles Hem- 
ingway, 1891; C. S. Hayes, 1892-94; J. W. Bissi- 
kummer, 1895; F. H. Burchard, 1896; J. R. Glov- 
er, 1897. 

Oxford Hook and Ladder Qwnpany was organ- 
ized June 25, 1875. The charter members were: 
L. A. Coville, F. P. Newkirk, A. H Brill, C. M. 
Grav, E. C. Delavan, Geo. F. Gillman, H. A. 
Curtiss. L. A. Knott, F. E. Billings, Ira W. June, 
N. B. Eccleston, O. M. Westover. The present 
officers are: J. D. Smith, foreman ; Frank Beadle, 
assistant foreman ; F. P. Newkirk, secretary and 
treasurer. They now have a membership of 
thirty-one. 

Lady Washington Engine Gimpaay organized 
May 6, 1839, by the election of F. P. Newkirk, 
foreman: D. B. Smith, assistant foreman; W. H. 
Van Wagenen. secretary: Geo. Rector, treasurer; 
C. B. Maynard, engine master: H. H. Houghton, 
steward. After thirty years of sen.-ice it was dis- 
banded. The members were: J. O Stratton, W. 
S. Thomp-on. D. B. Smith, A J. Sands. Aaron 
Newkirk, J. Rheinwald, 
C M. Gray, E. Puffer, G. 
W. Lewis, H. D. Wal- 
worth, T. Chapman, A. 
I Hunt. George Rector, 
Wm Balcom. D. C Bron- 
son. N. B. Eccleston, T. 
I. Sperring. O. M. West- 
over. 

I'hoenix Legion, No. 136, 
order of the National Pro- 
tective Legion, was 
organized May 4. 1896. 
The order is a fraternal 
society, which pays dis- 
ability loans and death 
benefits. It convenes in 
the rooms over Robin- 
son's market, the first 
and third Thursday eve- 
nings of each month. At 
this writing it has thirty- 
two members in good 
standing. 



THK fJXFfJkU IIIS'I'ORICAI- SOUVENIR. 



"Grip's" Valley Gazette. 

Vol. v. No. n. Albany, N. Y., Nov.. 181)7. 12 Nos. $1. 
"Grip," Fublisher. Office 403 Clinton Ave. 

CopyriKhted, i8g7, by "GRII'." 



A Monthly Qazette of Social Events and Affairs in Gen- 
eral in the Empire State. 

Biographical and Historical nonthly, the only maga- 
zine of this nature in print. Sketches and Portraits of 
the r.eadinK Characters in Daily Life. A valuable pub- 
ication for reference. 



Publisher and Desiener of Mementos, Souvenirs, Favors. 
Menus; Designs for Advertising Purposes tor all kinds of 
Business; Summer Resort and Hotel Stationery of New 
and Unique Designs; Everything in pla e and paper that 
Is new and rich, and where beauty is not sacrificed for 
economy. 



COXTHIBUTOHS TO THE SOUVEINIK. 



Alexander, Wellington. 
Balcom, Lucy A 
bissikummer, j. w. 
Clarke, H. W. 
CuRTiss, Mrs. H. A. 
CoLLOQUE, Rev. E. W. 
Dunn, Geo. H. 
EccLESTON, Mrs. Dr. C. H. 
Felton, S. A. 
Galpin, Tiieodork B. 
Gi.EAsoN, Mrs. Dr. D. A. 

G.M.i'I.-J, IlKNKV J. 
Gl.KASON. HaTI IE. 

Hyde. LLiZAiiETii. 

jACOliS, llAI I IK. 

KKVivs, Mrs. Andrew. 
LITTEI.I., Rev J. H. 
Miller, John b. 
Mead. J. P. 
Newkirk, K. p. 
Parsons, Rev. C. B. 
Race, Mrs. D. 
Saunders. Leland. 
Sherwood, C. W. 
StaI'FORD, Mrs. S. S. 
SiRA iTON, Mrs. H. C. 
Sutherland. Mrs. W. T. 
Thorp, Mrs. Dr. J. W. 

VANW'Ar.ENEN, J. K. 

WiiriNiiV, M. L. 



Burke, A. R. 
Brown, C W. 
COE, Pkop. R. H. 
Collo(,iue. Orrok Paul. 
Clarke, P. G. 
Dodge, Genevieve 
esielow. j. c. 

GinuONs, Matthew. 
GoDEREV, Miss Augusta 
Grav, Mrs. Edward. 

HVDE, Hon. W. H. 

Knott, L. A. 

Mead. Mrs. S. H. 
Morton, S. J. 
Odekirk I. H. 
Putnam, Mrs. Ellen M. 

SconoRiA, Rev. j. l. 
Stafford, S. S. 
Si'AFFORD, George. 

SUIHERLAND, REV. W. T. 

Thorp, Dr. J. W. 

Van Wagenen, Miss Helen. 

Welch. E. L. 



Not a Few Valuable Facts printed in this Sou- 
venir were obtained from very interesting articles 
compiled by Mr. Henry J. Cialpin and published 
in a series of sketches in the Oxford Timts. They 
are entitled "Annals of Oxford," and contain 
much rare data and information of early settlers. 

An Historical Souvenir, such as this, is one of the 
best means for setting forth to the world at large 
the advantages of a town or city as a place for 
residence or the employment of labor. The growth 
of a town increases property valuations, enlarges 
the Held of trade and improves the community 
morally and intellectually. It means that every 
person engaged in buying and selling will be 
benefited — more mouths to feed and more persons 
to clothe. 

We Are Greatly Indebted to the ladies and gentle- 
men of Oxford who have taken kindly to this 
work and given it their hearty support. It has 
required considerable patient effort by the con 
tributors as well as the publisher, and we feel 
assured that The Souvknir will be received, gen- 
erally, with satisfaction. We have done the best 
we knew how to make it a credit to the village, 
sparing neither time nor expense. Those who 
fail to appreciate the scope of such a work are 
few in numbers in Oxford. They were not raised 
in that village. 



The Views in this Souvenir were made by A. R. 
l)urke and E. L. Graeff, both of whom are first- 
class photographers. A great amount of work 
and considerable care was exacted, and both gen- 
tlemen were especially painstaking, recognizing 
the fact that the character of The Souvenir de- 
pended a great deal on their workmanship In 
towns the size of Oxford, too little attention is 
paid to photography; but here the rule is the re- 
verse. This is undoubtedly owing to the fact that 
the two photographers understand their business, 
and generally get excellent re.sults. 

Strange, but True. — On the evening of Dec. 31, 
1874, a handsome silk banner was presented to 
Sappho Hose Co. by a former visitor in town. 
Miss Charlotte Mulligan, of Buffalo. A year pre- 
vious to this event the lady had promised a silk 
banner to the company if its members would ab- 
stain from intoxicating liquors for the period of 
one year. Great preparations were made for cele- 
brating the occasion in a fitting manner. 

Impressions. — My impressions on first visiting 
Oxford, were of a pleasant nature, and after a 
two years' residence here I find no occasion to 
think that they were far from correct. Few vil- 
lages of its size offer such inducements to those 
seeking for a home or a location for manufactur- 
ing purposes. It keeps abreast of the times in 
all modern improvements and conveniences. Its 
well lighted street.s, beautiful shade trees, fine 
stone walks, pure water in abundance, and intel- 
lectual society, all make it an ideal place for a 
home: while these, together with its shipping 
facilities, offer superior inducements to the manu- 
facturer to bring his business here. Its people are 
thrifty and progressive, and while there is room 
for improvement, its citizens are justly proud of 
their village. — [J. J^. vS(ohori,\. 

The Indian Fort.— Among 
the Indian antiquities of 
Chenango county the most 
interesting one is, perhaps, 
an earthwork fort in Oxford^ 
the remains of which were 
found on a mound covering two and a half acres, 
some thirty feet in height, called Fort Hill Square. 
This hill adjoins the river on the east side near 
the center of the vill.ige. The fort contained about 
three fourths of an acre of land and was heavily 
timbered with beech and maple trees in 1788. At 
an early date outlines of breastworks from seven 
to ten feet in thickr ess were seen. The form of the 
fort was semi-circular, with its base upon the river. 
Its curved side was encircled with a well defined 
ditch aboutfour feetdeep, exceptattheends, where 
smooth spots ten feet wide were left for gateways. 
The stump of a large pine tree remained on which 
could be counted nearly two hundred grains or 
circles, proving its origin later than the fort's, 
which was probably from 300 to 400 years old. Its 
position was a strong one, both for observation 
and defense, and the view uj) and down the river 
extensive and beautiful. The line next to the 
river was fifty rods in length. Tradition connects 
this fort with the Antoine family as the .seventh 
generation from its occupants. A giant chief 
called "Thick Neck," is said to have occupied it, 
a deadly foe of the Oneidas. Human bones, 
cooking utensils and other relics have been found 
near by when excavations were made. — [John E» 

MlI.I.F.R. 




THE OXFORIJ HISTfJRICAL S(;UVENIR. 



THE OXFORD DIRECTORY. 

OFFICIAL. 

County— J uflge, Albert F. Gladding, Norwich; 
District Attorney, W. B. Matterson. Bainbridge; 
Clerk, Jay G. Holmes, Norwich ; Sheriff, Zenas 
Tarble, Afton ; Deputy Sheriff, Uri VanTassell, 
Oxford; Treasurer. Stephen Wilcox, Smyrna; 
Member of Congress, George W. Ray, Norwich; 
Assemblyman, Jotham P. Allds, Norwich; Sena- 
tor, John Grant, Delaware county ; Coroners, R. 
A. Harris, Norwich, L C. Andrews, Pitcher, P. 
A. Hayes, Afton, T. B. Fernald, Norwich; School 
Commissioners, ist district, Dennis Thompson, 
Stanbro; 2nd district, Charles Clinton, Smith ville 
Flats. 



Fitts, Church, Hayes; Fire: Church, Hayes; 
Streets, Walks and Parks: Fitts, Dodge. 

Board of Education— President C. W. Brown; 
Treasurer, Peter V. Xewkirk ; Clerk, Wellington 
Alexander; Commissioners, John W. Thorp, M. 
D., F. T. Corbin, Jared C. Estelow. Clark E. 
Bartlett, Albert S. Burchard, John J. Lillis, Wm. 
K. Jacobs, Alexander D. Wands. Committees — 
Finance: Estelow. Jacobs, Wands; Teachers; 
Thorp, Estelow, Burchard, Brown; Text Books: 
Brown, Corbin, Estelow, Thorp; Library: Jacobs, 
Thorp, Burchard, Lillis; Tuition: Lillis, Bartlett, 
Corbin; Apparatus and Natural History: Wands, 
Bartlett. Burchard; Official Reports: Burchard, 
Lillis, Jacobs; Janitor: Corbin, Lillis; Repairs 
and Supplies: Bartlett, Wands. 




THE CHURCHES OF OXFORD. 



Town— Supervisor, Tracy L. Cone, South Ox- 
ford; Town Clerk, M L. Whitney, Oxford; Over- 
seer of Poor, P. J. Conover, Oxford; Justices, H. 
J. Stratton, Sylvanus Moore, John R. Glover; 
Assessors, George L. McNeil and H. W. Mead, 
South Oxford, and H. F. Crumb, Oxford; Col- 
lector. Fay L. Brown ; Overseer of Bridge, Mar- 
tin Church; Constables, Frederick Rorapaugh, 
James Redmond, Philip Stafford and G. R. 
Wheeler. 

Village— President, C. M. Dodge; Clerk, L. A. 
Knott; Treasurer, F. H. Burchard; Corporation 
Attorney, S. S. Stafford; Trustees, C. H Church, 
F. L. Fitts, C. S. Hayes. Committees— Finance: 



FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL. 

Attorneys.— Brown, C. W., Bank building; Dun- 
ning, R A., Washington park; Glover, John R., 
Fort Hill block; Hyde, Wm. H., Washington 
park; Stafford, S S., Bank building; Stratton, 
H. C. & V. D., Bank building. 

Commercial Gas Light Co. -President, F. T. 
Corbin ; Secretary and Treasurer, A. S. Burchard. 

Express Go's.- Adams, S. Canal. A. H. Brill, 
agent; United States, D., L. & W. depot, G. P. 
Mead. 

First National Bank.— President, J. R. Van Wag- 
enen; Vice-president, F. G. Clarke; Cashier, 



36 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



Jared C. Estelovv; Bookkeeper, P. V. Newkirk; 
Clerks, W. L. Van Wagenen and Mrs. Catharine 
Aylesworth ; Directors, Francis G. Clarke. W. H. 
Van Wagenen, J. R. Van Wagenen, Cora D. 
Hayes, Wm. Miller, H. W. Clarke, Gilbert J. 
Parker. 

Insurance. — Excelsior Mutual Life Association, 
Bank building: President, Charles W Brown; 
Vice President, Frank T. Corbin ; Secretary, 
William K. Jacobs; Treasurer, Charles O. Wilcox; 
Medical Director , John W. Thorp, M. D. ; Supt. 
of Agencies, DeWitt P. Preston ; Special Agent, 
J. C. Philley; Board of Directors, Charles W. 
Brown, Frank T. Corbin, John R. Van Wagenen, 
Hon. William F. Jenks. Hon. Elliot Danforth, 
Richard M. Clark, M. D,, Charles O. Wilcox, 
Frederick H. Burchard, Millard D. McNeil. John 
W. Bissikummer; Assistant Secretary, F. A. 
McNeil; Clerk. Miss May Van Deusen; Stenog- 
rapher, Miss Lottie McFarland. 

A. C. Lewis, Bank building. 

S. S. Stafford, Bank building. 

J. R. Glover. Fort Hill building. 

Opera House. — W. M. Miller, proprietor ; Harry 
Tew, Manager ; George Holdredge, Stage Man- 
ager ; A. Morse, Assistant Manager; J. D. Beck- 
with, James Morgan, M. H. Gibbon, H. C. Tew, 
ushers. 

Oxford Times.— T. B. Galpin and Wellington 
Alexander, editors and proprietors; C. H. Holmes, 
Herbert Tansey, Charles Lett, John G. Walker, 
staff. 

Oxford Electric Light Co.— President, J. G. Van 
Wagenen ; Secretary, F. L. Gamage ; Treasurer, 

C. E. Bartlett. 

Physicians. — En.sign. E. L., Clinton; Gleason, 

D. A., Washington, Greene, T. J., State; Miller, 
R. E., Washington; Thorp, J. W. , Mechanic and 
Merchants; Purden, Jas. A. 

Post-Office. -Herbert Emerson, Postmaster ; Miss 
Hattie C. Jacobs. Assistant. 

Telegraph and Telephone.— Dednck, F. J. ; George 
Dunn, ilessenger, Main. 

Photography. — Burke, A. R., Main street ; Graeff, 

E. L. , Lafayette square 

MERCANTILE. 

Books. — Galpin, H. J., Main. 

Billiards. — Bentley, J. J., Fort Hill square. 

Bakery. — Ouackenbush, G. W., proprietor, N. 
Canal street. Miss Grace Ouackenbush, clerk. 

Bicycles. — Bu' chard Bros., Main; Morton, S. T-, 
Main; Brill, A. H., S. Canal; Bartlett, C. E,, 
Main; Bissikummer, J. W. , N. Canal; Cronk, 
W. Iv, Main. 

Cereals. — New York Food Co , Main street, 

F. W. Bartle, manager. 

Commission Dealer.— Dwight D. Morley. 

Clothing.— Cooper &- Hitt, Main; E. D. Moore, 
Lafayette square ; M. Pyursky, Main, John Byrne, 
clerk ; E. M. Rider, Lafayette square, Fred. 
Bartle. clerk 

Coal. — Mrs. Marania Greene, Lafayette square, 
» Thomas Torrey, driver; Clarke, Mead & Co., 
F. G. Clarke, G P. Mead, F. T. Corbin, proprie- 
tors, George Lamb, driver. 

Drugs. — J. W. Bissikummer, N. Canal, A. L. 
Kirchner. Ernest Cooper, clerks; Corbin & 
Smith, W. A. Jones, pharmacist. 

Dry Goods. — W. M. Miller, Lafayette square, 
H. A. Curtiss, clerk; C. O. Wilcox, Main, G. J. 
Stratton, J. D. Smith, clerks. 

Fruit.— J. Flang, S. Canal. 

Furniture.— Pettis &- Co., Main. T. C. Pettis, 
and R. H. Bills, proprietors, M. H. Gibbon, cabi- 
netmaker, Moore, driver. 

General Merchandise.- F. T. Corbin and M. B. 
Smith, LaFafayette square, W. A. Bentley, book- 
keeper, W. F. Powers, Earl Mack. Mable Norton, 
I. I. Ogden, W. A. Jones, L. E. Jones, Martin 
Church, clerks. 



Gentlemen's Furnishings.— G. B. Angell and R. H. 
Baldwin, Main, La Verne Shepard, clerk. 

Grocers.— Carl, W. A. and Cronk. W. E., Main, 
Lee Bixby, clerk; Lillis, J. J., Main, John Coo- 
gan, John Roach, clerks; Loomis & Cowles, La- 
fayette square; McNeil, M. D. , Main street, M. 
L. Whitney, B. M. Emerson, clerks. 

Hardware.- Burchard Bros , F. H. & A. S., J. 
Sherman, clerk; Bartlett, C. E., Will Gibbon, F. L. 
Brown, clerks; Boname, W. P., Arthur Brown, 
clerk. 

Harness. — Knott, L. A., Lafayette square, Mr. 
Patrick, assistant; Harrison. J. A., Lafayette 
square. 

Ice Cream. — Bentley, Mrs. J. J., Fort Hill square. 

Jewelers. — Coville, L R., and Moore, S. , Lafayette 
square; Morton, Harvey, Main, S. J. Morton, 
assistant. 

Livery. — Redmond, J. J., Washington ave Ro- 
rapaugh, Fred., Taylor; Hoag & Hitt, Fort Hill. 

Masons' Supplies. — Tew, James, Water. 

Meats.— Church. L. B. & Dowd, P. J., Lafayette 
Square; Cronk. C. &• Tew, E., Main; Robinson, T. 
W., Main, L. D. Robinson, John Ray, assist- 
ants; Shufelt & Son, Main. 

Merchant Tailor. — Brown, T. A., Main, Miss 
Crosby, assistant; Cooper &• Hitt. 

Millinery. — Nowlan. Mrs. M. J., Lafayette 
square. Miss Sarah Lett, Miss O'Brien, assistants; 
Sherwood Mrs. C. W., Main, Mrs. W. Dedrick, 
Miss Kate O'Connor, Miss Emma Sherwood, 
assistants; Swan, Miss S J., Main, Miss Julia 
Swan, Mi.ss Susie Wilcox, assistants. 

Notions.— Aldrich, M. D. Main. Robert Ran- 
dall, clerk; Harrington, O. B , Main. 

Real Estate.— Menthew, J. S , Clinton. 

Restaurant, — Webb, C. L. , Main, Thomas Kee- 
nan, chef. 

Saloon. — Van Wagenen, J. G. , and Millard, F. 
S., Main; Eraser, Charles, Main. 

Sewing Machines.— Hopkins, J. A., Mechanic. 

Asa P. Hyde Machinery Agency. — Asa P. Hyde, 
superintendent, Will M. Hinman, bookkeeper, 
proprietors; E M. Roberts, foreman; F. L. 
Mowry. engineer; R. B. Stratton, H. L. Nash, 
machinists; I C. Roberts, blacksmith; W. N. 
Bowers, wood-finisher; John Hatch, W. J. King, 
John Porn, C. L. Brown, C. Bowers. M. Bowers, 
B. L. Prince, Claude Hamlin, John Porter, James 
Knight. Harry Blakeslee, C. M. Aldrich, C. 
Youngs, wood-workers. 

INDUSTRIAL. 

Barber.— Dedrick Bros., P. H. & W. C, Main; 
Husted, M., Main; Lewis, C. E., Main; Rivers, 
Main; Spence, R. E., N. Canal. 

Blacksmith. — Dunne, M. P., Main; Lewis, John, 
S. Canal ; Walker, Fred, N. Canal. 

Bill Poster and Decorator.— Tev/, Harry, Scott. 

Boots and Shoes.— Eraser, Henry, N. Canal ; 
Zacharias, E. S., Main. 

Builder.- Buckley, W. P., State; Fitts, F. L., 
Albany; Church, C. H., Taylor street. 

Bus —Beadle, F. E., Scott. 

F. G. Clarke Blue Stone Co.— Employes; Edward 
Hollywood. George Curamings, Dell Holmes, 
Patrick McWilliams, Chas. Flogan, Philip Galla- 
gher. Joseph Brackett, Garry McDonald. Edward 
Crystal, Michael Burns, Jr., Edward Kearney, 
Evans Sherman, Jno. O'Connor, Eugene Hickev. 
Thomas Callahan, Wm, Cowdry, N, J. Hall, C. 
Whitney, James Feeney, James O'Brien, Michael 
Dunn, Timothy Rogers, Thos. Shapley, Charles 
Mead, Thomas Kearnev, Henry Hanrahan. Sey- 
mour Fleming, Mike Bush, Fred Martin, Mat. 
Flannigan, Patrick Burns, Art. Burns, Patrick 
O'Connor, John Murtaugh, James Dunn, Robert 
Crandall, George Cook, George Graves, John 
Murphv. Wm. Moore, P. Bofford, John Brown, 
John "Walker, L. V. Stratton, N. C. Thornton, 
Robt. Wells, H. Thornton, Chas. Cooper, W. Nes- 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



inith F. Newkirk, Chas. Johnson, Wm. Tansy, 
Claude Wilder, James Laffertv, George Sweezy, 
Theodore Wands, Martin Dunn, Patrick Rooney, 
Eugene West, E. B. Johnson, Chas. Perkins, 
Robt. Norton. Ed. Feelev, Bernard Burns, James 
Smith, Fred King, Samuel Davis, N. G. Hopson, 
Charles Uch, Thomas Kearney. 

Carting.— Crosby, M., S. Canal; Mo wry, I. A., 
Scott; Voungs, Seymour, O. & W. station. 

Chemist.— Brewster, E. C, Washington avenue. 

Chirocycles— Pearne, B. M., N. Canal. 

Cigars.— Mulligan & Co., Main. 

Carriage Painter.- Burnap George, S. Canal. 

Dentists.— Thompson, Dr. C. E., Lafayette 
square; Eccleston, C. H.. Clinton. 



Extract Co.— Main street, W. C. Dedrick. Pres- 
ident, F. N. Dedrick, Secretary and Treasurer. 

New York Condensed Milk Co.— Manager, J. N. 
Decker; J. B. Beckwith, J. S. Tracey. A. Parker, 
E. Waters, W. Burlison, J. Morgan, M. W. Dolan, 
E. Benedict, W. Ingrahara, B. Reilley, F. Car- 
penter, G Clark, G. Franklin, B. Hurlbert, C. 
Fields, H. Tew, M. Mudge, L. Gibbon, W. Ryan, 
B. Storks, G. Ingrahara, G. Brown. I. Beebe, H. 
Winchester, R. Morse,']. Taylor, H. Land, I. L. 
Dalton, W. Savage, C. Gale, H. Walworth, C. 
Bartlett, H. Hunt, L. Cashman, M. Bartlett, L. 
Root, A. Hicks, J. Champlain. 

Oxford Basket Works.— Munyon & Yates, proprie- 
tors; employes — Belle Dunning, Maud Kent, 




.ROUP OF STREETS. 



ScoTT Street. 
Merchant's Street. 

Washington Avenue. 



Photos by Burke and Graeff. 

Dressmaking.— Hill, Mrs., Main; Ingraham, Mrs. 
George, State; Aylesworth, Miss Vesta, Clinton; 
Race, Mrs. L E., Main. 

Glover & Oldfield Quarry.- John R. Glover and 
James Oldfield, proprietors; empioyes; Frank 
Dowd, Thos, Dowd, Jr , Chas. Jones, Lynn Clarke, 
Andrew F. Keyes, Perry Dixon, Tony Fandro, 
Bartley Callahan. 

Green House.- Race, Derrick, Albany 

Job Panting.— Burke & Stafford, Main; Galpin & 
Alexander, flu Times. 

Lumber.— Church, Charles H., Taylor, Irwin J, 
Church, Wm H. Church, George Simpson, em- 
ployes; Pearsall, E. A., Chenango. 

Milk Dealers.— Bullock, S. A., Washington ave- 
nue; Manzer, L. H., Judson Root. 



Sarah Paul, Minnie Paul, Martin Milan, Alfreda 
Parks, Lillie Parks, Ruth Wells, Rosa Briggs, 
Jessie White, Ethel Kent, Joseph Collingwood, 
Maud Collingwood, Charles E. Brooks. Charles 
Sturgess, Mrs. C. Daly, Frank Sturgess, Lena 
Root, Florence Wilder, Luella Sperry, Wallace 
Sperry, Howard Littell, Abel Corbin, Lewis 
Rathbun, Tillie Smith, Katy Dalton, John Byrnes, 
Kittie Wilder, Mrs. I. A. Perkins, Rose Tracy, 
Frank Murphv, Mrs. James Taylor, Mary Calla- 
han, Walter Littell, Cora Crosby, Rosa Crosby, 
Anna Murphv, Mabel Guile, Charles Furbush, 
Bertha Squires, Viola Bowers, Henry Purdy, 
Andrew Peterson, Leroy Bowers, George E. 
Dunning, H. L. Aldrich, Charles Hooper, Edith 
G. Felton, Dora Walling, Cora Boname, Adah 



THE OXFORU HISTORICAL SOUVKNIR. 




Photo by Burke 



THE TOWN BOARD. 



Humiston, Joseph Dunn, Harry Munyan, Bruce 
Humiston, Robert Johnson, Marion White. Dan- 
iel Ingraham, (George Moulton, S. D. Felton, 
Leon Jones, Ernest Munyan, L. B. Ward, Clarissa 
Ward, Willie Frazier, Charles Humiston, William 
Chester, J. R. Wylie, Clarence Bushnell, James 
Porn, Sarah Powers, Edith Beardsley, Maggie 
Bowers, Jessie Curtis, Louise Squires, Grace 
Bowers, Carrie Shufelt, Grace Dunning, Ella 
Manzer, Sara Byrnes, Dolly Tansy. 

Oxford Steam Laundry.— N. Canal. Rugg, Geo. 
P., i)ro])rietor, Geo. II. Ingraham, Mrs. Leon 
Tillottson, assistants. 

Painter.— Walker, C. B., N. Canal. 

Painter and Paper Hanger.— Blood, L. E., Albany; 
Nichols, !■'. A., Taylor; Tew. Harry. 

Tailoress.--Doheiiey, Miss S. J., Main. 

Tinner. — Titus, B , S. Canal. 

Union Tooth Co.— Dr. C. H. Eccleston and E. 
(i. Eccleston. proprietors; Sarah Moulton, Lucy 
Bonanie, Lonie Kent. Charles Grannis. 

Hotchkiss House.— LaFayette sq., Taft, R. W., 
proprietor, A. B. Bennett, clerk. 

Park Hotel. — Washington park, John Storch, 
pr ojir i e t o r, 
Frank Milan, 
clerk. 

St. James Ho- 
tel. — LaFayette 
sq.. Bra wste r . , 

Bros.,Z. C. &E. 
S. , proprietors, 
John Ferguson, 
clerk. 

The Lacka- 
wanna Orchestra 
was organized 
October 25, 
1894 The pres- 
ent member- 
ship consists of 
W. P. Bonanie, 
trombone and 
prompter; E. F. 
Eccleston, cor. 
net; R. M. Ec- 
cleston, clari- 
net; E. L.Walk- 
er, tirst violin 
and leader; A. 
B. Olds, second 
violin ; James 
E. Dunne, bass 
and manager. 
The orchestra Photo by Burke 



deserves liberal support. 

The Water Works was com- 
pleted Oct., 18, 1897, by M. 
B. Birdseye & Son of Fay- 
etteville, N. Y. ; contract 
price about $22,000, the work 
occupying six weeks, a 
record rarely surpassed. The 
supply coEsists of two 
springs, three miles north 
of the village, at an eleva- 
tion of 300 feet above it. 
The capacity is about 8,000 
or 10.000 gallons. A reser- 
voir 200 feet above the vil- 
lage and a quarter of a mile 
.^T'' JL, , fj^ -listant is connected with the 
"yiltsdr^jB^^ main by a ' Y" pipe It has 
''' "*""■ ^^^^^^ ihe capacity of nearly one- 
half million gallons, and is a 
reserve supply for fire pur- 
poses The pressure \ rom 
the springs is 80 lbs. to the 
square inch. There are nine 
miles and 600 feet of four, 
six, eight and ten inch pipe, and forty-eight hy- 
drants. 

The Town Board.— Tracy L. Cone, the Super- 
visor, was first elected in i8<jr and subsequently 
in 1S95. He was postmaster and station agent at 
South Oxford for se venteen years and served as 
Justice of the Peace in 1893-5. He married Anna 
R. Randall in 1895. Sylvanus Moore, Justice of 
the Peace, is a jeweler. He was appointed Octo- 
ber, 1889, and elected in 1S90, and has served as 
inspector of elections. Hakvky Stratton, Justice 
of the Peace, has served as inspector of elections 
and taught school. He married Fannie Copeland 
in 1876. John R. Glover was appointed Justice 
of the Peace in 1892, elected in 1893 and re- 
elected the following year for the full term of 
four years. Milton L. WiitTNEY, clerk, was 
elected in 1S95. He married Carrie Boname in 
1S93 




THE LACK.A.WANNA ORCHESTRA. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



39 



Joseph Jefferson Literary Cir- 
cle, — In the autumn of i8gi 
twelve ladies of the village 
of Oxford formed a reading 
society. No preparatory 
work was required, but one 
evening in each week they 
met for pleasant and profit- 
able reading. The first book 
taken up was ' ' Autobiog- 
raphy of Joseph Jefferson," 
and was enjoyed so much 
that the suggestion to call 
the society "Joseph Jeffer- 
son's" met with unanimous 
approval from the members. 
The society has increased in 
members to seventeen, elect- 
ing annually a president, 
vice president, critic, and a 
committee of three members 
to select the reading for the 
year. During the six years 
the society have read cur- 
rent literature, English and 
American history, standard 
authors, and several of 
Shakespeare's plays. The 
meetings are called October 
ist and close about the mid 
die of May. This society 
was the first of its kind in 
the village, and its promot- 
ers feel that its influence 
has been good, from the 
fact that other similar socie- 
ties have since been formed 
with large memberships 




THE MASONIC FRATERNITY. 

IT. B. GALPI\.] 

OXFORD LODGE, No. 175, F. & A. M., 
was organized under a dispensation and 
held its first regular communication De- 
cember 16, 1861. It was the successor of Chen- 
ango Valley Lodge of the same number, which 
had surrendered its charter a short time previous. 
Its first officers were: W. M., Levi P. Wagner; 
S. W., John Ray Clarke; J. W., Daniel E. Cora- 
stock; treas , Wm B. Race; sec. Wm. A. Martin; 
S. D., Andrew B. Olds; J D.. Alton D. Root; 



THE BOARD OF VILLAGE TRUSTEES. 

(See Directory, p. 35. for Names.) 

S. M. C, H. H. Houghton; J. M. C, Fred P. 




fhT^T^ 



JOHN E. MILLER'S BOAT HOUSE 



Newkirk; tyler, Charles Eraser. 

The following named, with the above officers, 
were charter members: G. H. Perkins, Charles 
Johnson, Dwight H. Clarke, Wm. S. Thompson, 
Erastus J. Berry, O. P. Miner, Elhanan Puffer, 
Solomon Bundy, Daniel B. Smith and Charles B. 
Eaton. 

The lodge held its meetings a short time in the 
rooms formerly occupied by Chenango Valley 
lodge in the second story of a building that stood 
on the corner of premise? now owned by J. E. 
Packard, on Washington Park. They removed 
from there to rooms in the Clarke block, and in 
the afternoon of June 17, 1S62, held a public in- 
stallation of officers in the old Episcopal church, 
which stood near the 
present academy and 
high school grounds. 
Rev. A. A. Benedict, of 
St. John's Lodge, Bridge- 
port, Conn., then located 
in Norwich, delivered the 
address and there were 
present Deputy Grand 
Master Clinton F. Paige, 
of Binghamton, and a 
large number of visiting 
brethren from neighbor- 
hood lodges. On Decem- 
ber 2g, 1862, the lodge 
removed to rooms in the 
third story of the Lewis 
block, a portion of Lewis' 
hall having been cut off 
and fitted up for lodge 
purposes. An incident of 
their occupancy of these 
rooms was the festival 
given by 0.\ford lodge 
during the holiday sea- 
son. The lodge rooms and 



THE OXFOKI) HlS'l'OKlCAL SfJUVENIR. 




I'hotoB by Burke. 
Kkv. C. B. Paksons. 
Rev. J. L. Scoiioria. 



THU CLEKGY OP OXI'ORl). 
Rkv. W. T. .Suthkrj.anij. Ke.v. ]. II. I,ri jeli, 

Kl'.v. B. W. CoLi.oc.)UE, D. 



S. S. Stafford; S. D., M. H. Gib- 
bon; J. D., C. G. Eccleston; S. M. 
C, M. L. Whitney; J. M. C, John 
S. Tracy; marshal, C. M. Dodge; 
organi.st, B. M. Pearne; tiler, H. 
'I"ew. 

TruKtees— M. D. McNeil. S. S. 
Stafford, C. M. Dodge. 

finance Committee — T. H. Gal- 
pin. F H. Hurchard, W. E. Cronk. 

Past Masters — *L. P. Wagner, 
*John Ray Clarke, F. P. Newkirk, 
A. P, Olds, H M. Pearne, James- 
B Brown, L. A. Knott, L. K. Co- 
ville, *J. A. Coville, C. M. Dodge, 
']). M. I,ee, H. O. Daniels. S. S. 
Stafford, F. L Gamage, M. D. Mc- 
Xuil, W. K. Jacobs. [*Dectased.) 

Its communications are held on 
the second and fourth Mondays of 
i-,irh inonth. Starting with twenty 
' barter members, its lodge register 
Mr)vv numbers 287. 

Oxford Chapter, No. 254, R.-.A. ■. 
,\l. ., held its first convocatioit 
under dispensation June 6, 1870, 
.mil was duly constituted F"eb. 14. 
I -71. Its lirst officers were: H. P., 
S F. McFarland; K., James B. 
I'.iown; S., L. R. Coville; Treas- 
urer, G. II. Perkins; Secretary, D. 
\I. Dee; Chaplain, Rev. T. P. Hai- 
ti ad; C. of H., Ja.s. A. Preston; 
P. S , D. A. Knott: R. A. C, J. A. 
Coville; M. of 3d V., Thomas L. 
Moore; M. of 2d V., Benajah Lan- 
ders; M. of ist v.. Derrick Race; 
Tiler, Hiram IC. Lewis. 



hall adjoining were thrown 
together for dancing, re- 
fri-shinent and social inter- 
course, and a large assem 
blage of visiting brethren 
and citizens with their ladies 
enjoyed the hospitality ex- 
tended, which is remembered 
to this day. A goat occu- 
]jied quarters in the ante- 
room, and was the subject 
of much comment and many 
recollections. In 1882 the 
lodge removed to rooms in 
the second story of a build- 
ing on North Canal street, 
owned and (itted up by 
James B Brown. This was 
their home for thirteen 
years, and in 1895 they again 
removed to their present 
c|U>arters in the third story 
of the Mrst National Bank 
building. These rooms h;ive 
l)een es])ecially lifted up for 
lodge and chapter purposes, 
and include a parlor and 
kitchen. They have been 
furnished and decorated 
from lime to time, and now 
are one of the finest and 
best arranged lodge rooms 
in this section. The first 
communication was held 
here Aprils, 1895. The pres- 
ent officers are: W. M.. W. 
K. Jacoljs; S. W.,S J. Pick- 
ett; J.W , S. H. Mead; treas- 
urer, (leo. P. Mead ; secre- 
tary, L. A. Knott; chaplain, 




Photos by Burke 



THE (J.XKOliD PAIiSONAGES. 



THK OXFOkl> HISTORICAL SOL'VKN'IR. 



The charter members were; John Ray Clarke, 
Horace Packer, I). B. Smith, F. P. Newkirk, J. A. 
Preston, IClihu Cooley. O. H. Perkins, K. J. P.erry, 
Derrick Race, '".eo. H. Rogers, Norman I'ord, 
Clark T. Rogers. John F. Leitcli, Peter W. Clarke, 
John C. Maxon, S. !■". McFarlanfl. M. IJ., Samuel 
!■;. Lewis, Benajah Landers, Andrew B. Olds. 

The Chapter registry number is now 104- Its 
stated convocations are held on the first and third 
Mondays. Its present officers are: II. P.. L. A 
Knott; K., Z. C. Brewster; S., B. F. Kd wards; 
Treasurer, L. R. Coville ; Secretary, B. M Pearne; 
C. of II., A. I J. Wands: P. S . C. M. Dodge; R. A. 



lodge was established and working in Oxford as 
far Dack as 1815, of which Oxford Lodge now holds 
a few records. The (Irand Lodge proceedings 
show that a petition for a lodge to be held at Ox- 
ford, Chenango county, to be known as Widows' 
Son Lodge, was made March 3, 1813. About this 
time there was also in existence here a Chapter of 
Royal Arch Masons, known as Harmony Chapter. 
From this brief sketch it will lie seen that Ma.-.onry 
has had a long and useful career in Oxford, with 
but little interruption. The rolls show the names 
of many townsmen who gained distinction in the 
varied walks of life, and who long since have been 




Copied from PainiinK's and Old Photos. 
James A. (;i.o\ kk. 

KFiriiKAS Miller. 

Hknkv Va.m Di;i< Lyn 



Ja.mi- 
Eth 



R.S OP O.XKOKIJ 
s Clapp. 



l/AHUIl Va.n Wagenen. 

Henkv Bai.com. 
nh.jn Carev 



C, (;eo. p. Mead; M. of 3d V., S. II. Mead; M, of 
2d v., K. II. Beardsley; M. of rst V., A. E Hol- 
comb; Chaplain, L. H. Rogers; Organist, B. M. 
Pearne ; Sentinel. H. Tew; Past Hihg Priests, F. 
P. Newkirk. S I''. McFarland, L. A. Knott, jas. 
B. Brown, I) M. Lee, C. M. Dodge, L. R. Coville. 

A feature of the Chapter meetings is the serving 
of refreshments at every convocation and the so- 
ciability that prevails among its members at the 
conclusi'>n of labor. Several times during the 
year "ladies' nights" are held, at which the fair 
sex enjoy the hospitality of the Chapter. 

Previous to the dates above given a Masonic 



N Clarke. 

summoned to a higher lodge, and the old records 
contain many items of interest to the craft. 

Builders of Oxford.— Our readers will be glad to 
see a group of pictures of the pioneers of Oxford. 
It is impossible to obtain photographs of the very 
first settlers, and there are many which can be 
had, that might be reproduced with great pro- 
priety. Lack of space has forced a selection ; we 
are sure all will be glad to see the faces we pre- 
sent. As nearly as we are able to decipher records, 
we present brief sketches of these early settlers in 
the order of their appearance in Oxford. Anson 



THI-: OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




THE EPISCOPAL PARSONAGE.— Residence of Rev 



W. Colloque, 

Gary was a Revolutionary soldier, who came here 
in 1793. Bom in Connecticut 1762, and died in 
Oxford, May 3, 1842. Mr Cary was the first 
blacksmith in the settlement, and later on was 
County Jucge, Sheriff and Justice, for many 
years. Hk.vrv B.m.com was son of Francis Bal- 
com, the first person to receive a deed for land in 
the town of O.xford. He was bom in Oxford. 
January 18, 1798, and died, January 26, 1S78. 
"For forty- two years he gave to f)xford Academy 
his ceaseless, tireless energies and the benefit of 
his wise counsels. — Academy Records." Eiiiii- 
RAS Mii.i.KK came to O.xford, 1600. Bom. Glaston- 
bury. Connecticut. 1778, died O.xford, July 5, i860. 
Mr. Miller was engaged in the drug business with 
Samuel Famham. 1807-9. and afterward in gen- 
eral merchandise business until 1843, a part of the 
time in partnership with 
Thomas G. Xewkirk and 
later wth his son, Henry 
L. Miller. James A. Gi.o- 
VF.R came to O.xford in 
1802. Bom in Plainfield, 
Ct, 1793. Died at Ox 
ford May 23, 1875. He 
was a mechanic of ex- 
ceptional skill, and con- 
ducted a blacksmith shop 
for many years, in which 
David Maydole. the wide- 
ly known manufacturer, 
learned his trade. Mr, 
Glover was identified 
with the growth of the 
village and was a trustee 
of Oxford Academy, He 
accumulated considerable 
property. Hk.nrv V.\n 
Der Lv-n came to Oxford 
1806. Born, April 21, 
1784, Died. October i, 
1865. He was a lawjer, 
possessed of good talents 
and great acquirements, 
"He was the best equity 
lawyer the village ever 
had, Henry R. Mygatt 
excepted." James Clapp 
came to Oxford 180S, 
Bom, Hartford. Connec- 
ticut, December ;, 178^. 
Died, January 3, 1854. 
Aaron Burr, and was 



county, 1822. He was a general mer- 
chant until his death, February 8, 1858. 
.\ssociated with him at different times 
were Henry Balcom, Ebenezer Sherwood, 
Joseph H, Dwight, Frederick A. Sands 
and James W. Clarke. Gerrit H. Vas 
Wa'.knen came to Oxford 1822. Born, 
January 21, 1753. Died, November 30, ! 
I '•35. He erected the first hare ware 
store in town; also built grist and saw 
mills, and was interested in woolen and 
carding mills. For a few years Mr. Van 
Wagenen was engaged in the hardware 
business; he was interested in the pur- 
hase and sale of real estate. — C, B. 
Far-.ns, 

St. Paul's Parish. — The following resume 
is taken from the Oxford Times of July 
26. 1887, but with some erasures for want 
"f space, and some additions, to bring 
the record to the present time. It was 
prepared for " The Annals of Oxford" by 
Jlr, Henry J, Galpin, and has been 
pronounced substantially correct: The 
firsr meeting, held with the view of organizing 
this Parish, convened at the house of Abijah 
Lobdell, Jr,, May 23. 18 14. Capt. Frederick 
Hopkins and Capt. John Backus were elected 
wardens; and Ebenezer Hull, William M. Price, 
John .Spoor, John Church, Peter Burgot, Gen. 
Ransom Rathbone, Chauncey Morgan and 
Abijah Lobdell, Jr., were elected Vestrymen. The 
Rev, William B, Lacy then oflriciated during one- 
half of the year in the Academy. A choir was 
formed, with Capt. Famham, Au.stin Hyde and 
Gen. Rathbone as first, second and third choristers, 
respectively. Efforts were early made to procure 
a suitable place of worship. Henry Van Der Lyn 
interested himself in the circulation of a subscrip- 
tion, and on Feb. 23d, 1815 the amount subscribed 
having reached $1,993, a committee was appointed 




H. C. .STRATTONS RESIDENCE. 
GEORGE B, GOES RESIDENXE, 



J.J.DICKINSON'S RESIDENCE. 



He Studied law with 
always known as a 
strong defender of that strange man. Ethan 
Clarke came to 0.xford from Brookfield. Madison 



to receive proposals for the erection of a building. 
March 21st, 1815, a contract was entered into to 
build an edifice, 40 by 50 feet, for $2,200. The site 
selected was on the common in Fort Hill Square , 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



43 



on lands conveyed by the village trustees. The 
building was completed and consecrated by Bishop 
Hobart, Sept. 8, iSi6. This was the first church 
erected in Oxford. Early in 1842 the church build- 
ing was moved to a site near by, purchased from 
the Academy ; the first location hasnng been chosen 
more from necessity than from beauty. This build- 
ing was later moved to Chenango Forks, where it 
still does duty, changed and beautified, as the 
house of God. The present church building stands 
two blocks from the first site, on lands ample and 
beautiful, donated by the Clapp family: a most 
picturesque comer at the south-west end of Wash- 
ington Park The church is of stone, and is noted 
far and wide for its graceful lines, neat surround- 
ings and rich adornments. It was begun in 1856 
and consecrated Oct. 14, 1857. The Rectory stands 
to the west of the church : it is a frame building of 
ample dimensions and semi-ecclesiastical style of 
architecture, and now has the usual complement 
of closets, although it is said it had none at first, 
as the building was constructed during the incum- 
bency of a bachelor rector, who had too many 
large, unoccupied rooms to feel the need of nar- 
row closets. Back of the church and facing an- 
other street is the building used as a Parish House, 
Sunday school room and chapel. This was finished 
in i860. In 1861 the iron fence about the church 
property «-as set up at a cost of §1,505. In 1S73 
$4,000 was subscribed tor the purpose of erecting 
a stone porch and bell-tower to the church. In 
1870 a new organ, costing S3. 200, was purchased. 
In 1S77 the interior of the church was decorated, 
and a new bell hung. And during the incumbency 
of the present rector, the side-walls of the church 
have been <lecorated anew, all the windows have 
been filled with rich memorials handsome furni- 
ture has been added, including a silver communion 
service, brass lectern, pulpit, prayer-desks, cross 
and vases, and communion rail and electrolier for 
the chancel. All these are memorials. The church 
building has also been "re pointed," and parts of 
the edifice, notably the tosver, have been re-built. 
The following have been the successive rectors of 
this church: Rev. William B Lacy.D. D., 1814- 
1818; Rev. Leverett Bush, D. D.,1818-1842; Rev. 
Thomas Towel, 1842-1844; Rev. T. R. Chipman, 
1844; Rev. B. W. Stone, D. D., 1845-1850; Rev. .S. 
Hanson Coxe, 1850-1853: Rev. M. Van Rensselaer, 
1853-1854; Rev S. Hanson Coxe, 1854-1857; Rev. 
D. H. Macurdy, 1857-1865: Rev. Walter Ayrault, 
D. D., 1865-1875; Rev. R. M. DuflF, S. T. D., 1875- 
1879; Rev. J. M. C. Fulton, S. T. D , 1879-1888: 
Rev. E. W. Colloque. the present rector, who en- 
tered upon his charge in April. r888. Church Of- 
ficers and Committees [1S97-8] ; Wardens — Fran- 
cis G. Clarke. William H. Hvde. Vestrvmen— 
John R. VanWagenen, F. H. Burchard, C' G. Ec- 
cleston. C. W. Bro%vn. Noyes B. Eccleston, J. E. 
Packard, J. A. Hopkins, L. A. Knott. Standing 
Committees: Finance— F. G. Clarke. C. W. Brown, 
L. A. Knott; Church Buildings and Grounds— F. 
G. Clarke. Wm. H. Hyde, J A. Hopkins, C. W. 
Brown: Church Seat.s— C. W. Brown, C. G. Ec- 
cleston, L. A. Knott; Water Pipes— C G. Eccles- 
ton, F. H. Burchard. J. E. Packard; Decorations 
—J. E. Packard, J. A. Hopkios, X. B Eccleston, 
F. H. Burchard ; Music— The Rector. J E. Pack- 
ard, C. W. Brown; Ssxton- F. H. Burchard, X. 
B. Eccleston, C. G. Eccleston; Permanent Funds 
and Insurance — J. R VanWagenen. L. A. Knott; 
Altar Committee— Mrs C. H Eccles;on, Mrs. J. 
R. VanWagenen. Mrs. E. W. Colloque. The stated 
meetings of the Vestry are held on the last Tues- 
day in each month at 7:30 y. .m. 

The Rev. E. W. Colloque, D. D., the present rector 
of St. Pauls church, Oxford, X. Y., was born in 
Philadelphia and spent his early boyhood in that 
city, in X'ew Jersey and in Xew York. He was 



graduated from St. Stephen's College in 1871, and 
the General Theological Seminar^' in 1876, and re- 
ceived the degrees of Master of Arts, Bachelor of 
Divinity and Doctor of Divinity from St. Steph- 
en's, the General Theological Seminary, and Wes- 
leyan College, respectively. In 1S76 he married 
Miss Mar>' Louisa Orrok. 'They have one child, a 
■ son, Orrok Paul Colloque, who is a member of the 
cla.ss of 1899 of Trinity College, and organist of 
St. James' church, Hartford, Conn. Mr. Colloque's 
first charge was St Paul's church, Medina, Ohio, 
where he remained nine years and saw erected a 
rectory and beautiful stone church. Returning 
from a trip abroad, he took charge of St. Paul's 
church, Fremont. Ohio, and then of St. Mark's 
church, Cleveland, Ohio Thence he was called 
to St. Paul's church, Oxford, in 18S8, where he 
remains contented "till his change comes." 

The Junior AuxiliaTy> St. Paul's church, is a 
branch of the general organization, which is under 
the direction of the Woman's Auxiliary to the 
Board of Missions. Its branches are scattered 
over the United States, the headquarters, how- 
ever, being in Xew York City. The object of this 
.society is "to interest and instruct the youth and 
children of the church in missions, and to impress 
upon them as members of the same a sense of 
their responsibility." The Oxford branch, formed 
October 25, 1896, is the outcome of the union of 
two societies, the Honor Society and The King's 
Daughters. The Honor Society, established in 
May, 1 886, by eight young girls, with Marion R. 
Brown as president, pledged itself to work for 
Honor Cottage, Syracuse. Money was raised and 
boxes of clothing and bedding were sent twice a 
year to this institution. 

The King's Daughters.— The circle of The King^s 
Daughters, established in October, 1891, with 
eleven members and Mary McC. Eccleston as presi- 
dent, hold themselves ready for work at home or 
abroad. Besides the gates at the entrance to 
Riverv'iew cemetery and money contributed to 
the church at home, donations of money and cloth- 
ing were sent to Mrs. Buford's school in Virginia, 
to the Xebraska sufferers of 1895, and to needy 
families nearer home. These societies now con- 
tinue their work under the name of the Junior 
Auxiliary, with a membership of twenty-two, the 
officers as elected in October being: President, 
Helen M. VanWagenen ; vice-president, Bertha M. 
Gifford; secretary, Clara M. Tew; treasurer, 
Anna M Hopkins. The work done since October 
last has been the raising of money by suppers, 
socials and ice-cream festivals, and sewing for 
missionary boxes. The money raised has been 
contributed this year, as assessed by the general 
organization, to Mr. Dantzer, missionary to deaf 
mutes in this State ; Miss Wilson, teacher, in St. 
Augustine school, Raleigh, X. C. ; Archdeacon 
Joyner. for his work among colored people in 
South Carolina; Dr. Walrath, Africa, and towards 
expenses of the church in central X^'ew York. 
Money has also been given to the Sunday school 
at home. As a result of the Lenten sewing, a box 
of 25 garments was sent to Mrs. Buford's school 
and hospital for colored people in Virginia, and at 
Christmas time a box containing presents for 18 
boys was sent to the Pine Ridge Indian agency in 
South Dakota While the main object of the 
Auxiliary is to foster a loving sympathy for the 
unfortunate whom we do not know, a no less im- 
portant one is to show ourselves ready for any 
work, however small, among tho.se who may be 
near. These objects the society hopes to attain 
more nearly in the future than in the past 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



OXFORD ACADEMY. 

[Contributed by \Vm. H. Hvue] 

OXFORD ACADEMY was planted in the 
wilderness by strong, true men, who min- 
gled with the men who bore arms to 
achieve our independence, and heard from their ? 
lips the fresh story of the American Revo- 
lution. Samuel Miles Hopkins, the first lawj'er 
who began practice here, in a letter to a friend, 
gave, among other reminiscences of his advent 
to the place, the following: " I settled at Ox- 
ford as a lawyer. In such a village as this, the 
first framed building was an academy of two 
stories high and Mr. Tracy was the teacher." The 
application for the charter, signed by Benjamin 
Hovey and seventy-seven others, has date Tanu- 



its board of trustees was held the second Tuesday 
of April, 1794. The first President was Benjamin 
Hovey. and the first principal of the new school 
was Uri Tracy, a graduate of Yale. A select 
school had been taught by Mr. Tracy since late in 
1792, in a building erected largely by the exertions 
of Mr. Hovey and a few other early settlers. This 
building stood midway of the northwest side of 
what is now Washington Park, and continued in 
use as the academy for several years only The 
need of a larger building soon became known, and 
the lot with the first structure was sold and e.x- 
changed for a new site on the southwest end of 
the common, near the pre.sent residence of Joseph 
E. Packard. The second academy was erected 
upon this lot in 1799, only to be destroyed by fire 
soon after its completion, and was never occupied. 
The exact date of the fire does not appear, but 
early in January, 1800, prompt action was taken 




H. A. HUNT. 



THE RlVliRSIDE WHEELMEN'S RACING TICAM. iSee Page 76.1 

f. G AUSTIN. P. V. Newkirk, ManaKer. S. J. Morton. J. B. Sher.nhn- 

). A. Th..mi'30n. W. E. Gibbon. 



ary 12, 1793. but was not presented to the Regents 
of the University of this state until early the fol- 
lowing year, by the same Mr. Hopkins delegated 
for that purpose. As the names which the peti- 
tion bore far exceeded in number the male resi- 
dents in the new settlement, it had doubtless been 
in search of signers in the region around and be- 
yond, in the months which elapsed before it 
reached Albany. In the interval which followed 
the date of the petition, the new town of Oxford 
was erected from the old town of Jericho, of which 
it had been a part, and Oxford, in deference to 
Mr. Hovey, who had come from a town in Massa- 
chusetts of that name, was assumed as the name 
of the new town and of the academy, as well. 
Oxford Academy was granted a charter by the 
Regents of the University early in the year 1794, 
tinder the title "Trustees of Oxford Academy," 
and was one of the first four incorporated in the 
state, west of the Hudson. The first meeting of 



for the erection of the third upon the site of the 
.second academy, which was soon eifected by those 
early settlers from the scant means at their dis- 
posal, with an energy and persistent devotion to 
the best interests of the new settlement, above all 
praise. This third building was moved in 1806, 
from its place on the common to the comer on the 
south side of Merchants at its intersection with 
Green street, opposite the present house, lot and 
premises of Ward Van Der Lyn. It continued in 
use here until the fall of 1S31, when it was sold, 
with its site, to the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in Oxford and used bj' them as a place of worship 
until the erection of their present church near 
Fort Hill. It was in the third academy, under 
David Prentice as Principal, afterwards Professor 
of the Greek and Latin in Geneva (now Hobart) 
College, that among other names the roll bears 
those of Horatio Seymour, sometime Governor of 
the state, John W. Allen, who, in 1840, was Post- 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



45 



master General under the first Harrison, Ward 
Hunt, who afterwards sat upon the bench of the 
Supreme Court of the nation, Joseph G. Masten, 
who was a Judge of the Superior Court of Buffalo, 
Charlemagne Tower, who died not long ago with 
a name familiar in the world of business and 
finance, Ferris Forman, who was afterwards grad- 
uated at West Point, and was in the war with 
Mexico, and reached honorable rank in the army. 
Henry W. Rogers, a leading lawyer and popular 
citii'.en of Buffalo, and prominent in political life, 
and Henry R. Mygatt, who, during nearly forty 
years of able and honorable practice of the law 
here, was the liberal citizen, the steadfast patron 
and friend of Ojcford Academy, adding to her 
strength and usefulness by his willing service, 
wise counsel and constant benefactions, i )f those 
who were with them at school, Hon. Frederick 
Juliand of (Jreene, Mr. Alanson Hull and Mrs. 
Elizabeth Newkirk of this town, are the only 
known survivors. The fourth school building had 
its site on the east side of Fort Hill, opposite the 
Baptist Church, and although a wooden structure, 
was far in advance of any before it in architecture 
and fitness for school purposes. It was sur- 
mounted with a dome to which a new bell was 
added, which has never since failed to summon 
successive generations of students to duty, and is 
still in use for that purpose. In this fourth build- 
ing, too. a separate apartment for girls was first 
instituted under a preceptress, the gentler se.\ 
having until then been wholly under the training 
of the head master and his male assistants. This 
fourth building was dedicated January 2d, 1S32, 
with ceremony worthy the event, including an ad- 
dress by Edward Andrews, a former principal of 
the school and afterward well known as an able 
and eloquent divine at Binghamton. The school 
now entered upon a career of great prosperity and 
wider usefulness, under the mastership of Merritt 
G. McKoon and his successor, John Abbott, cover- 
ing a period of over twenty years. During no 
equal term of life has its patronage been so wide- 
spread. It reached quite beyond mere local limits 
and gathered students not only from other and 
distant sections of this state, but from those ad- 
joining east, west and south, in some cases beyond 
even Mason and Dixon's line. In this ingathering 
each sex was well represented. The catalogue of 
1840 has three hundred and ten names. Mr. Ab- 
bott, in his letter of January 12, 1852, in resigning 
his headship of the academy, recites that during 
his connection of fifteen years as tutor and princi- 
pal of the school, 3,000 different students had 
shared in its privileges. He closed his letter with 
an earnest appeal to the Board for the erection of 
a more ample school building. During all of 
these years there were moving forward in succes- 
sion, to "the world's broad field of battle," the 
men and women of the future, some to engage in 
the learned professions, others as educators in the 
schools, some to yet untried battlefields in defence 
of the Republic, a few to proclaim the (rospel mes- 
sage upon remote continents and isles of the sea, 
a goodly number to throng well and worthily all 
the highways and by-ways of business, social and 
domestic life. Many gained prominence in the 
learned professions, not a few distinction in places 
of public trust m the state and nation, many 
others in the manifold pursuits of the world's busi- 
ness and enterprises won merited success and 
usefulness. Time and space forbid any detail of 
these, much more of the large an^ay of those who, 
in less conspicuous but not less useful places, have 
fulfilled the high mission of true and worthy man- 
hood and womanhood. The fifth and last school 
building erected by the Trustees of O.^ford Acad- 
emy, stood near the east bank of the Chenango 
and upon the site of the new structure of the 
Union Free School, District of Oxford. This 



fifth building was completed early in 1854, by its 
contractor, Thomas J. Wood, and both without 
and within far exceeded all that preceded it in all 
its appointments. Its dedication August ist and 
2d thereafter, at the "Academy Jubilee," so- 
called, brought together an assemblage, the equal 
of which had seldom been gathered on any like 
occasion in the state. The record of that event 
is in print in a book which cannot fail to be read 
as an important part of local history, while the 
years shall gather and pass. Of those who spoke 
and wrote on that occasion, Rev. Daniel Wash- 
burn, who gave the dedicatory ode. Miss Lucy A. 
Balcom. who contributed the song of welcome, 
and William H. Hyde, who spoke the Historical 
Reminiscences, alone remain. Hon. Ward Hunt, 
orator of the day. Rev. Dr. Edward Andrews, 
judge Charles Mason, Hon. John Tracy, Hon. 
Daniel S. I )ickinson, the gifted advocate, Edward 
Tompkins. Esq., and others, whose apt responses 
at the banquet were a delight to all who heard 
them, are with the great majority beyond. And 
with them are Hon. Horatio Seymour, Hon. John 
W. Allen, Hon. S. S. Randall, Abel R. Corbin, 
Esq., and others whose letters telling their regret- 
ful absence, with kindly words of cordiality and 
good will, brought joy to all who listened. The 
fourth academy, which had stood on the east side 
of Fort Hill, was moved during the summer of 
1854, and placed near the river and the new school 
building, and used as a boarding house for 
teachers and students. Here Merritt G. McKoon 
died November 28, 1854. He had returned after 
ten years of educational work elsewhere, to take 
again the headship of the school which he had 
done much to equip and organize, for further use- 
fulness and success, with high hope for the future. 
It was as if the husbandman had been suddenly 
stricken down after the sowing, and while await- 
ing with fond expectation the waving of the yel- 
low harvest. His funeral was most fitly ordered 
at the Academy where his life work was closed. 
Of those who followed Mr. McKoon as head-mas- 
ters of the school, the longest term of service, ex- 
tending beyond ten years, was that of David G. 
Barber, who, with John W. Thorp, M. D., his 
faithful associate for'some time as tutor, are still 
here. It was during the early part of this period, 
that more than sixty, who had been or were then 
students of ( )xford Academy, went forward to the 
defence of the Republic against armed rebellion. 
Some of these closed their school books and came 
not back again. Edward S. Bragg, a student of 
1844, who was breveted a General for meritorious 
service and afterwards made Minister for the 
United States to Mexico, was the earliest in the 
list, and is now a resident of Wisconsin. A beau- 
tiful Memorial Tablet, the result of the thoughtful 
and generous action of the Alumni Association, 
tells of their grateful appreciation of the patriotic 
sacrifices and services of these student soldiers. 
The Centennial of Oxford Academy again brought 
together, on the 2Sth and 2c)th of June, 1894, from 
far and near, her sons and daughters in a glad re- 
union, in which nothing was wanting to worthily 
commemorate her birth m a forest and her long 
and useful career of a century. It was an event 
of so recent date that it is needless to go into de- 
tail of it here, and the more so, since what was said 
and done is already faithfully recorded in print in a 
book which will have added interest and value 
with the passing years onward into the distant 
future. The Centennial was the crowning event 
in the history of the Academy, and of the town as 
well. Taking chartered life together, they have 
advanced in harmony and grown up in mutual de- 
pendence through a century of blending hopes 
and interests. The present generation are not 
liable to hold at too high a value that ancestral 
wisdom and steadfast devotion to the true welfare 



46 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



of themselves and those to follow them, in which 
Oxford Academy had birth. Principals: uri Tracy, 
i793'-4: Elisha Mosley, 1795; John Kinney, 1807; 
Rev. Wm. Hyde, 1808; David Prentice, 1S21 ; 
AVm. D. Beattie, 1825; Rev. Edward Andrews, 
1826; Wm. D. Beattie, 1828; Merritt G. McKoon, 
1832; John Abbott, 1S43; Myron M. Goodenough, 
1852: Charles E. Vanderburgh, 1S52; Abel Wood, 
1853; William Wight, 1854; Merritt G McKoon, 
1854, until his death; Frederick Humphrey, 1854; 
J. C. VanBenschoten, 1856; H. Barnes, jr., 1858; 




I.EROV COVILLE. SYLVANUS .MOORE. 

David G. Barber, 1859-' 70; Henrj' E. Storrs, 1S70; 
Herbert J. Cook, 1870; Rev. Charles Woodward. 
1872; Charles W. Brown, 1872: Warren C. Hub- 
bard, 1872-3; Rev. Frank B. Lewis, 1873: James 
A. Brown, 1879; Frank D. Budlong, 1883: Fred- 
erick L. Gamage, 1885; Herbert P. Gallinger, 
1893; Wm. C. Joslin, 1S95. 

The Firm of Coville & Moore, jewelers, was or- 
ganized April 19. 1869, succeeding H. H. Cady in 
Exchange Block, Lafayette Square, where the 
same business has been conducted for about sixty 
or seventy years. The stock comprises everything 
in the line of jewelry, silver plated ware, watches, 
clocks, notions, etc , and all kinds of repairing. 
The members of the firm have been in Oxford for 
several years and it is the oldest firm wherein 
there has been no change in any respect in this 
village Mr LeRoy Coville was born m the town 
of McDonough, July 7, 1830. He was employed 
on a farm at an early age, continuing in that oc- 
cupation, between which and going to school he 
divided his time, until the age of 23 years, when 
he started in with H N. Walter, at Norwich to 
learn the jewelry trade, remaining with him about 
four years and becoming proficient in all branches 
of the busmess. Going to the town of Morris, 
Otsego County, he assumed charge of the jewelry 
business for Charles Brown. In 1S5S, he started 
in business in De Ruyter. succeedmg a jeweler by 
the name of Weeks, and in the fall of 1S59, came 
to Oxford and entered mto co-partnership with H. 
H. Cady, under the firm name of Coville & Cady, 
which continued until 1S67, when the partnership 
was dissolved, Jlr. Cady continuing at the old 
place, and Mr. Coville conducting another store 
until the present co-partnership was formed. Mr. 
Coville, who is a Republican, has served as town 
and village assessor and village trustee, and is a 



member of the M. E. Church; also of the Oxford 
Lodge and the Chapter F. & A. M., in which he 
has occupied many official posts. He was married 
to Louisa Hall, of MclJonough Dec. 24, 185 1. Mr, 
Sylvanus Moore was bom in McDonough, Chen- 
ango County. July 24, 1841. He was brought up 
on a farm, spending as much time as could be 
spared from the farm duties in getting the rudi- 
ments of an education in the district school. Mr. 
Moore attended 'he Oxford Academy during the 
years of 1S60-61 and 62, and for the four succeed- 
ing years he taught school and worked on the 
farm alternately. In March 1867, he came to Ox- 
ford and entered into clerkship for Wm. Balcolm, 
and remained with him until the present co-part- 
nership of which he is a part, was formed. On 
Ma)' 2S, 1873, he married Angle Webb, of Smith- 
ville, Chenango County. He is an active Repub- 
lican, devoting much of his time in zealous work 
for his party, and serving on the board of inspec- 
tor.s almost continuously for about 20 years. He 
was apijointed justice of the peace in Oct., 1889, 
to fill a vacancy and the following spring was 
elected ; afterwards twice re-elected and now serv- 
ing the second full term He is an active member 
of the M. E Church, in which he has beec steward 
and trustee for many years. 

Alfred Ricard Burke, one of the viewers for 
the Oxford Souvenir, was born in South New 
Berlin, June 27, 1875. He received his early edu- 
cation at South Oxford. He moved to Oxford in 
1885, where he entered the Oxford Academy, 
After graduating, in 1893, from that institution, 
he entered Hamilton. Here he spent two years 
in preparation for his life work. It was here 
that he learned the photograph business. In 
1895 he started in business in Middleburgh, where 
he remained one year. This start in Middle- 
burgh was, in reality, to gain more knowledge of 
the business, for during the time he was studying 
to perfect himself he was twice in Albany and 
once in New York, for short periods, for that 
purpose. In i&gf) he moved his gallery to Oxford, 
where he is now permanently located. The suc- 
cess he has had in Oxford will speak for his skill. 
In connection with his photographic work he is 
one of the firm of Stafford & Burke, job printers. 
Mr. Burke is an excellent artist and deserves the 
patronage he is getting 








THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



The Oxford Co-operative Savings and Loan Asso- 
ciation is an important local enterprise just organ- 
ized, having for its object the accumulation of 
savings, to encourage industry and frugality and 
to provide an easy way by which the person with 
moderate means may be enabled to secure for 
himself and family a home. This association is a 
savings bank for receiving and investing savings 
in large or small sums by which the deposit of a 
single dollar will earn the same rate of interest as 
the millions of the capitalist. Its management is 
vested in a board of fifteen directors elected by 
the shareholders, including a president, vice-pies- 
ident, secretary and treasurer. The last two are 
the only officer^ receiving compensation, so it will 
be teen the expenses are reduced to the minimum. 
All officers having charge of the funds of the asso- 
ciation are under heavy bonds. A person desir- 
ing to become a member subscribes for a specified 
number of shares at the par value of Sioo per 
share, taking either series A, payable at the rate 
of one dollar a month or series B, payable in 
monthly installments of fifty cents, the first of 
which is estimated to mature in .six years and the 
other in ten years. Each payment is made on the 
last business day of each month, and at the regu- 
lar meeting of the board of directors held on the 
first Wednesday of the following month, these ac- 
cumulations are loaned on bonds secured by first 
mortgage on approved real estate, or upon the 
shares held by the borrower, who must in all 
cases be a member of the association. This 
method is an advantage to the borrower that can- 
not be obtained elsewhere, since he not only 
shares in the profits accruing from the loans he 
may negotiate for his own use as well as those ne- 
gotiated for others, but he is permitted to pay 
both the principal and the interest monthly. Div- 
idends are declared semi-annually and credited to 
the shareholders. Every member is a proprietor 
in part, the investor and borrower being equal 
partners, and is in a position to know from day 
to day the character of the business transacted 
and to have an eye on what course his invest- 
ments take. He may not necessarily be a bor- 
rower and should he desire to withdraw at any 
time he may do so. These associations are 
springing up m every small town and are success- 
ful. While men of large means are not excluded, 
it is the individual with a small income who is es- 
pecially benefited. The Oxford association was 
incorporated July 23, 1897, under the laws of the 
State of New York and is under the direct super- 
vision of the X. Y. State Banking Department, but 
the active business has just begun, the books of 
the company being f ipened to the public Nov. i . Al- 
ready about 200 shares have been pledged, a guar- 
antee that the association will start with unusually 
large business. This is an enterprise which will 
appeal to local pride as well as to the spirit of 
financial gain, and for that reason will receive 
hearty support and become very popular. The 
board of directors are: A. D. Wands, president; 
F. H. Burchard, vice-president; W. A. Bentley, 
secretary; A. C. Lewis, treasurer; H. C. Stratton, 
attorney; George P. Mead, C. R. Miner, Dr. R. 
E. Miller. T- J- Lillis, E. M. Rider, Wellington 
Alexander," D. D Corbin. W. H. Dunn, B. E. Hol- 
comb and George B Fletcher. 

Columbian Literary Circle.— In the fall of 1891, 
the subject of a literary circle for intellectual ad- 
vancement, was discussed by a number of ladies, 
but before any definite plans had been formulated, 
for obvious reasons it was thought best to post- 
pone the forming of this society until another 
year. So in October of 1892, an organization of 



eighteen members was formed, Mrs. A. D. Har- 
rington being the first president, under the club 
name of the Columbian Literary Circle, to meet 
weekly on Monday evenings, with the immediate 
object of preparing for a better knowledge of the 
Columbian Exposition (America's Ouarter Cen- 
tennial), and American History. America's Rela- 
tion to Foreign Powers, .Stead's .Story of the Na- 
tions, each week a selected article on some general 
topic of interest, -with evenings with various 
authors, gave both instruction and pleasure dur- 
ing the evenings of 1892 and 1S93. In May the so- 
ciety adjourned for the summer, hoping some of 
the members would be able to enjoy the Exposi- 
tion at Chicago, the better for the winter's work. 
However, only one of our members visited the 
White City, and on her return told us, "You have 
mi-ised the greatest event of your lives, ' which 
truth we were ready to acknowledge ; and as she 
so readily recognized the Majestic earlier in the 
season, when on a trip to the metropolis, we knew 
the information she gained in the society must 
have been invaluable to her on her western trip. 
In October of 1S93 the societv, objecting to any. 
second terms, elected Mrs Simpson, President, 
fini.shed "America and Foreign Powers." also 
read "Tenting on the Plains," by Mrs. Custer, 
"Under Summer Skies," by Clinton ScoUard, 
Julia Dorrs' "Bermuda," and continued our even- 
ings with authors. In ( )ctober of 1894. the Colum- 
bian Society resumed regular meetings with Mrs. 
J. W. Thorp as President, and everj' Monday 
evening during the winter saw the club in session. 
Brander Mathews' "Vignettes of Manhattan." Dr. 
Berry's "Zig-zag Letters Across the Sea," Field's 
"Gibraltar." Mrs. Peary's "Arctic Journal." and 
Ninde's " We Two Alone in Europe," with the 
various selected articles, brought information, 
knowledge and amusement to the members. In 
October of 1S95 the C. L. C. again convened, 
keeping up the number of members and with Mrs. 
T. W. Robinson as chief magistrate. Readings 
were resumed on the same lines of previous win- 
ters' work, viz : one book of solid information, 
one of lighter literature and an article of current 
topics. " (")ur Western .\rchipelago," by Fields, 
in connection with a humorous work entitled 
"The Last American Maureens F'airing," and 
"Princess Alene." by Richard Harding Davis, 
followed by Julian Ralph's "Dixie or Down 
South." with Octave Thanet's "Knitters in the 
.Sun." completed this winter's course of reading. 
In October of i8g6 the Coluinbian again awoke 
from its long summer siesta, and with Mrs. H. A. 
Curtiss for presiding officer, resumed the weekly 
gathering of the clan Interest remaining un- 
chilled, the club gladly re.sumed " Dixie," with 
"Chapters from a Life," by Elizabeth Stuart 
Phelps. "Shakespeare's Tales," by Charles and 
Mary Lamb, Boyesen s • 'Social and Literarj' Silhou- 
ettes of American Society," and "Alone in China," 
by Ralph, with "A Mother in Israel" and "The 
Truth-tellers," by John Strange Winters, brought 
the club up to the date of adjournment, May 24, 
1897. This completes a brief epitome of the work 
during the past five years Not always think- 
ing alike, still with no serious disagreement, 
we have endeavored to have in essentials 
unity, in non-essential •; liberty, and in all things 
charity. As time is limited, not only by years 
but by various occupations, the members must be 
content, like the bees, to gather a little honey 
here and there from dilferent flowers The Co- 
lumbian entertained the two other societies, \nz. : 
Joseph Jeff'erson and Round Robin, by giving 
them a reception at Mrs. A. D. Harrington's on 
Jlay 24, 1897. The present officers: President, 
Mrs. H. C. Curtiss; Vice President, Mrs. J. W. 
Thorp; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. F. D. 
Deidrick. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




A. D. HARRINGTON. 

A. D. Harrington is one of the largest dairy 
farmers in Chenango county and is the proprietor 
of Lyon Brook Dairy for the retail of bottled milk 
at 1554 Broadway, Brooklyn. The bottling is 
done at Haynes station, a few miles north of Ox- 
ford, by J.W. Harrington, his son, where a number 
of men are employed for that purpose. The Har- 
rington farm, illustrated here, is one of the best 
producing and best ordered farms in this great 
dairy section. The land is fertile and largely a pla- 
teau, somewhat rolling from the highway to the 
east, where it takes in a low rang'e of hills, and on 
the west embracing a part of therich river bottoms. 
There are 170 acres, well watered with an abun- 
dant supply from ever-flowing springs, carried by 
pipes into all of the buildings, 
which are large and of mud- 
em architecture, constructed 
by Mr. Harrington in 1875 
(the barn in 1S80) the year 
after he purchased the farm 
and settled down to reside upon 
it. The residence, a large 
three -story frame structure 
with mansard roof, stands upon 
the crest of terraced lawns, 
midst spreading, maples on 
the east side of Green street, 
within the southern limits of 
the corporation. The rooms are 
large and nicely furnished. The 
view from the porch takes in a 
large portion of the village to 
the north-west, and the wind- 
ing, shrubbery-skirted Chenan- 
go river, cutting through the 
meadows in the foreground and 
sweeping through a beautiful 
valley to the south-west. The 
first large residence north is 
that of Mr. J. W. Harrington. 
Opposite is the home of the 
farmer employed on the place. 
On the west side of the road 
stands the barn, a structure 
which one of the best known 
Binghamton architects pro- 
nounced as nearly a model for 
completeness, capacity and con- 
venience as could be desired. 
Mr. Harrington's own ideas are Hbotos by Bu 



largely embodied in the construction of this build- 
ing, and right here is a favorable opportunity to 
give it a brief description. It comprises four floors, 
64x64 ground plan, and is 4S feet from the ground 
to the eaves on the lower side. Standing as the 
building does on sloping ground, the basement is 
open on three sides and the entrance to the main 
floor, on the fourth, is practically level with the 
street. The walls of the basement, ten feet high, 
enclose box stalls and fastenings for the dairy, 
each of the forty cows being supplied with spring 
water running to her place summer and winter. 
By means of ventilators, a circulation is obtained 
which keeps the atmosphere free of the vapors 
common to cow stables. The temperature is reg- 
ulated so that comfort is secured in all kinds of 
weather. Underneath the cow stable is a cellar 
into which the manure is thrown to be left for 
drawing away at any time desired. Passage- 
ways leading from lloor to Hoor are provided in- 
side. The hay and grain are drawn up an easy 
incline to the fourth floor, where they are pitched 
into bays and lofts having the depth of 25 feet 
and the total capacity for 137 tons. Connected 
with the barn are a hundred-ton silo and a root 
cellar which will hold 1,200 bushels of mangles. 
Mr. Harrington is an enthusiast in agriculture 
and in breeding for the dairy, having given much 
time and close study to both, and is a mem- 
ber of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association and 
the New York State Agricultural Associa- 
tion. He regards agriculture as a science ca- 
pable of development far beyond the mere 
routine of farm drudgery. After wide experience 
in mercantile life he settled down to the dairy as 
a matter of taste, starting the business of supply- 
ing Brooklyn families with butter, cheese, eggs 
and milk, and placing it under the immediate 
supervision of Mr. E. L. Haynes, a competent 
manager. Mr. Harrington was born on a farm in 
Chenango county, March 5, 1834, and was edu- 
cated at the Oxford Academy, afterwards engag- 
ing in teachin.!< and farming, alternately, until 
1858. when he went into a i^eneral merchandise 
business in Pitcher, the firm being Taylor &• Har- 




A. D. HARRINGTON'S FARM. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



49 




. D. HARRINGTON'S RESIDENCE, 
hotos by Burke. 



J. W. HARRINGTON'S RESIDENCE, 



rington. This continued si.x years, when he re- 
turned to the farm. While in Pitcher he was 
active in politics, serving as postmaster of that 
place during Lincoln's first term; also a super- 
visor of the town, which position he has oc- 
cupied in Oxford. A year after leaving Pitcher 
he engaged as a traveling salesman for Mc- 
Carthy & Sedgwick, afterwards McCarthy &• 
Sons, Syracu.se, spending eight years on the road. 
Then he came to 0.\ford, as has been before 
stated. In 1875 he formed a copartnership with 
W. A. Carl in the grocery trade, occupying the 
store in the Harrington block, which bu.siness is 
now conducted by Carl & Cronk. In 1884 his son, 
J. W. Harrington, succeeded Mr. Carl and the 
firm became A. D. Harrington & Son, continuing 
thus for a few years, when the former retired leav- 
ing his son to conduct the business alone for sev- 
eral years — until, finally, 
the latter sold out to the 
present firm. Mr. Har- 
rington was for many 
years a director in the 
Highland Solar Salt Com- 
pany of Syracuse ; also at 
one time in the First Na- 
tional Bank of Oxford. 
He married Emma E. the 
daughter of M. N. Wal- 
dron of Otselic, Sept. 30 
1862. Both are active 
supporters of the Congre- 
gational church of Ox- 
ford, Mr. Harrington be- 
ing one of the two lay 
members of the board of 
trustees of the New York 
State Home Missionary 
Society, in which work he 
takes a great interest. 

Charles H. Church is a 

builder who has con- 
structed some very pretty 
residences in O.xford. 
He is one of the village 



trustees and to him is due a share 
of the credit for the improvements 
voted by the village in the last two 
years ard put into use this summer. 
We refer to the new graded school 
and the village water system. Any 
form of public enterprise may ex- 
pect encouragement and assistance 
from him. Being a Democrat and 
somewhat active, in a strong Re- 
publican community he does not 
expect much political preferment, 
in fact, has little time for it, al- 
though he has .served as collector 
of the village as well as trustee. 
Mr. Church, a carpenter and build- 
er all his life, born in Oxford, Aug. 
18, 1863, purchased a large plot of 
ground on Taylor street, and in 
1 89 1, clearing away a web of ram- 
shackle buildings, constructed a 
substantial lumber office and plan- 
ing mill with yards and sheds adja- 
cent for the storage of lumber and 
shingles. The building, 24x60, is 
three-story and basement, and the 
yards are separated from the street 
by a good picket fence There is 
an air of prosperity, neatness and 
taste about the premises that has 
been a great improvement to the 
street. The building is equipped 
with machinery for dressing lum- 
ber and the business as at pres- 
ent conducted consists of hand- 
ling all sorts of lumber at retail and in contract 
building; also buying standing timber, to fill any 
order that may be received for lumber at home or 
at a distance. The storage capacity of the build- 
ing and yards is as high as ten car loads. Much of 
the lumber is purchased in Chicago, Tonawanda, 
Buffalo and the South. To illustrate the growth 
of the business we cite the fact that in one month 
220,000 shingles were sold. Building, like every- 
thing else appeals to modem notions and for that 
reason the younger class of men generally give 
the best satisfaction and by adopting modern ideas 
are able to outbid their slower and older fashioned 
competitors. Mr. Church began contract building 
in 1 888 and has made a success. He was married 
to Fannie A. Briggs, of Deposit, Nov. 17, 18S7. 
He is an active volunteer fireman, being the fore- 
man of Niagara Hose Co. 



C-H.Churc 




H. CHURCH, LUMBER AND PLANING MILL. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




ASA P. HYDE. 



WILL M. HINMAN. 



The Asa P. Hyde Machinery Agency is a large 

manufacturing and jobbing establishment, giving 
employment to from twenty to thirty hands.accord- 
ing to the condition of the times. It is located 
adjacent the D.. L. & W. R. R. yards, to which it 
is connected isith a branch track. The extent 
and variety of manufactured work and jobbing 
done here is surprising, the products being shipped 
all over the country-. There is a machine shop. 
25x60, from which there are turned out all kinds 
of patterns and castings and machine, engine and 
boiler work. Any article in metal, iron, brass, 
etc., may be produced here upon order. In fact, 
designs are furnished from which the articles are 
manufactured. If a stationary engine of any 
character is desired it can be made here. Then 
there is a planing mill, 20x50. joined with an el, 
18x25, in which the lumber is dressed, also a nov- 
elty manufacturing department, 25x85. It is here 
that the visitor is impressed with the importance 
of the business, for the pro- 
ductions of this department 
are so varied and numer- 
ous that one is amazed at 
the inventive skill which 
they represent. And where 
do they all go ? one asks. 
Well, a large commercial 
house chooses to offer gifts 
to its customers; a child's 
sled or top, a little g^irls 
playhouse — tables, chairs, 
settees, stoves; or a wheel- 
barrow, desk, sewing 
table, umbrella stand, fold- 
ing music rack, easel, cradle, 
step ladder, etc. ; this firm 
will supply it by the thou- 
sand lots, more or less as 
may be desired. The Asa 
P. Hyde Machinery Agencv 
makes a specialty of doing 
just this thing and perhaps 
you, dear reader, living 
across the continent, brought 
home to your child the 
other day some pretty little 
article that came from this 
shop. The A. & P. tea com- 



pany are taking 600 chairs and as many tables 
weekly. Establishments manufacturing soaps are 
handling the productions of this factory and having 
them shipped directly to their trade to be given out.. 
They may be found in a dozen or more states, 
some of them on the Pacific coast A special sled 
is being made in very large quantities for George 
B. Borgfeldt & Co. One order for sleds, tables- 
and chairs is being filled at the rate of 500 daily, 
and as fast as the facilities can be increased the 
order will be enlarged. But that is not all thi& 
Agency does. We enter an addition, 16x20, being 
built, in which we find the storeroom for manufac- 
tured articles, including those above enumerated. 
and a great lot of castings, steamfittings and 
brass goods. We find that there are in stock tools 
of all kinds, all kinds of the several attachments 
for machinery, belting, shafting, pulleys and 
hangers, boilers and smokestacks, pipes and 
LC'uplings. Passing into the yard we find a great 
supply of lumber to be worked up or to serve the 
' lutside demand Entering the engine room we 
ijbser\'e that the maze of machinery by which this 
work is done is driven by a 25-horse power engine. 
It is a remarkable enterprise, one without counter- 
part within many miles of Oxford. The proprie- 
tors are two practical machinists, who undoubted- 
ly possess considerable genius, since they are 
constantly devising novelties and putting them on 
the market. Asa P. Hyde started the plant first 
in Pitcher, Chenango county, where he was bom 
June 7. 1S61. It was then. iSSo, the Enterprise 
Company, a factory on rather a small scale. In 
1SS4 it was moved to Oxford. Mr. Hyde associat- 
ing with himself Messrs. Bundy and Perkins. la 
the fall of 1SS9 he retired from that business and 
started an agency for selling machinery and sup- 
plies and continued it until 1S95. when Mr. Will 
M. Hinman, his present partner, stepped in and 
the two secured the old machine shop of D. 
Walker & Son which they have, of course, had to 
enlarge and outfit in order to get the necessary 
accommodations; put in new machinery, con- 
struct new buildings, etc. Mr. Hyde's practical 
knowledge of machinery has called him away 
from Oxford on different occasions to get new 
works in running order. He furnished several 
large outfits throughout the country from the 
Eagen Co.. of Cincinnati. Xow he can do just 
as well from his own establishment. He acted as 
foreman for one year, of the Sidney Novelty 




>.\ P. HYDE .MACHINERY .AGEKCY. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



51 



Works, which plant he helped put up, afterwards 
occupying the same position with the Norwich 
Cabinet Co 's works, and later having charge of 
the machinery in the J. J. &• F. P. Treanor mills 
at Oxford. He is interested in keeping the science 
of engineering at a high standard. Mr. Hinman 
was born in Afton, July 5, 1867, and is an expert 
mechanic. He came to Oxford in iSqi and 
worked at carpentry until he went into the Asa P. 
Hyde Machinery Agency. Mr. Hinman married 
Lillian L. Stoddard of Coventryville, Sept. 27. 
1 888. He is Sachem of the local tribe of Red 
Men, Secretary of the Steamer Company and 
member of the Y. M. C. A. Mr Hyde married 
Mary O. Jacobs in 1886 



speak of a high average ot prosperity. Flagstone 
walks in every part of the village, excellent water, 
gas and electric lights in the streets, public build- 
ings and dwellings, good stores and markets and 
adequate railroad facilities meet every reasonable 
demand for convenient and comfortable living. 
Book clubs, literary societies and an admirable 
public school minister to the intellectual wants of 
the community. A high-grade local paper tells us 
about our neighbors and — more delightful still — 
tells our neighbors about us. An aggressive and 
prosperous V. M. C A. is trying to do its part in 
meeting the physical, intellectual, social and re- 
ligious needs of our young men, while as for 
churches we have them in sufficient variety to meet 




Photos by Gr 



SA P. HVDE M.-\CHINERY AGEXC\. 



Impressions of Oxford. — It is said that the 
Moors of Spain used to think that the portals 
of Paradise were directly over Grenada, so that 
the soul of the faithful Moslem leaving the 
earth at that point ascended in a vertical line 
to the heavens, while from any other portion 
of the earth's surface the direction must have 
been more or less oblique in proportion to the dis- 
tance of the place from the Moorish capital. It is 
perhaps inevitable that one should look upon his 
home-town with some such prejudiced favor 
as that of the Moorish dwellers in Grenada for 
their beautiful city; yet it cannot be mere local 
partiality that leads us to see that Oxford has dis- 
tinct and important advantages as a place of resi- 
dence. Nature has done much for us. Our beau- 
tiful river and valley surround us with scenes of 
quiet, restful loveliness, familiar yet changing 
from hour to hour with the varying lights and 
shadows and with the progress of the seasons. 
The streets of Oxford are wide and shaded with 
noble trees. The lawns are generally well kept 
and the comfortable-looking houses everywhere 



every theological and ecclesiastical requirement. 
With all the advantages, however, to which Ox- 
ford can justly lay claim, there is one requisite of 
a well equipped town that we still lack. We have 
no public library. It is to be hoped that either by 
an independent organization or by an enlargement 
of the functions of the Academy library, this want 
may soon be met. Also it would seem as if there 
was opportunity here for the formation of a Choral 
Union that would afford practice and training in 
vocal music to its members and make it possible 
for us to have, once a year at least, such a musical 
treat as the Oxford Chorus provided for us in their 
delightful concert recently given. — Ward T. Suth- 

KRI.AN'Il. 

The Oxford Gas Company, organized August 9, 
i8g7, has just got its plant on South Canal street 
in operation. It is a Springfield gas machine with 
the capacity of producing 1,000 lights, and is run 
by water taken from the village supply. The 
association is capitalized at $2,000, the incorpo- 
rators being F. T. Corbin, A. D. Wands, Edgar 
Pearsall and Frederick and Albert Burchard. ' ( 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



Valley View Farm, owned and occupied by A. 
& E. P. Morse, was purchased of Benjamin 
Hovey, the original owner and settler of that ter- 
ritory, in part now occupied by the village of 
Oxford, by Solomon Dodge, in 1792, and origin- 
ally comprised 160 acres. It is situated in the 
northern outskirts of the village on the main road 
leading to Norwich, which in the village is known 
as Washington ave. At present it comprises 
ninety acres, one-third of which is fertile river 
bottoms, through which the Chenango pursues a 
tortuous course, and the rest gradually rolling 
west to higher elevations. Of late years the 
Morse brothers found that visitors from the city 
were so delighted with the location and the con- 



the best creamery productions. Mr. Alpha Morse 
is a practical instructor in the dairy, he having 
exhibited his cattle at the World's Fair, where Ke 
was employed from May i to Oct. i, 1893, in the 
dairy exhibit department. His brother, Edward • 
P., takes personal charge of the farm and dairy, 
while Alpha is at times called upon to act as in- 
structor at various state experimental stations. 
While this is being written, he is en route to 
Raleigh, S. C, taking hither cattle from his dairy, 
where he is to act asinstructor during the ensuing 
winter (1S97 gS). The Morse brothers have been . 
large exhibitors at the State fair and at the exper- 
imental stations, having sold their cattle to the 
(Geneva, N. Y., and seven ditferent state stations. 




Photos by Burke. 

veniences that none but a " village farm " might 
oiTer, such as proximity to the postoffice and 
stores, within ten minutes over good walks, well 
lighted by arc burners all the way, high elevation, 
with the beautiful valley and village spread out 
to view from the piazzas and windows, pure, 
spring water through the house and good boating 
within a stone-throw, that they decided to take 
surnmer boarders and provided ample accommo- 
dations for a dozen ; fitting up the interior in 
modern style and tasty furnishings. The Morses 
are practical dairymen and for years have been 
engaged in raising thoroughbred short horn cat- 
tle, since 1883 purely for dairy qualities, from 
which they provide their guests abundantly with 



VALLEY VIEW FARM— ,\. & E. P. Mi:)RSE. * 

View from the Piazz.\. 

There are also descendants of their stock at the 
Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire 
stations. Hezekiah Morse, their grandfather, 
purchased the farm in 181S. He was a native of 
Sherburne, Mass., and moved to Eaton, Mass., in 
1804, having seven children when he came to 
Oxford. He died on the farm in 1S27, and his 
second wife, who was Sally Stone, died in 1872, 
at the age of ninety-three years. Hezekiah B. 
Morse, their father, was born in Eaton, Mass., in ' 
1S12. and died in 1S77. Alpha Morse was born on 
the farm fifty years ago. He married Maribati 
Durfeein 1866. He is a member of Canasta wacta 
Lodge, I. O. O. F., and the Chenango Encamp- 
ment. Edward P. was born thirty-eight years ago. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




MRS. S.A.RAH C. .VHNK. Promoter W. R. C. HOME. 

The Women's Relief Corps Home was estab- 
lished through the efforts ot the Woman's Relief 
Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, to care for the aged, dependent veteran and 
his wife, veterans' mothers, widows and army 
nurses, residents of New York. In her annual ad- 
dress to the Convention in iSSS, Mrs. Sarah C. 
Mink, Department President of the \V. R. C, of- 
ficially introduced the subject and hoped in the 
near future the great Empire State would have a 
home where those who helped save the nation 
might be cared for, together with their wives. In 
1890, Mrs. Sarah C. Nichols, 
Dept. Pres. . recommended 
that tivo hundred dollars 
($200) be set aside from the 
general fund as a nucleus 
for a fund to be known as 
the Home fund. A circular 
was also i?;sued that year and 
all members urged to unite 
in advancing this plan. Up 
to this time it was thought 
to establish and su])port this 
Home solely from Relief 
Corps sources. The subject 
was again taken up in iSgi. 
when Ellen M. Putnam wa-; 
Department President. In 
that year she issued a circu- 
lar to the corps of the De 
partment asking such corps 
to contribute a sum equal 10 
one dollar for each member, 
and the corps responded 
liberally. At this time it 
was decided to secure legis- 
lation, if possible, and estab 
lish an institution supported 
by the State. In 1S92, by 
recommendation, a commit 
tee was appointed from the 
Woman's Relief Corps con- 
sisting of Ellen M. Putnam, 
Buftalo, Kate E. Jones, II- 
ion, Sarah C. Nichols, Au- 
burn, Sarah C. Mink, Syra- 
cuse, and Annie P. Cleary, 
Rochester, to act with the 
following committee ap- 
pointed by the Grand Army 
of the Republic: Joseph P. 
Cleary. Richard Curran and 
J. Graham, Rochester, T. L. 



Poole, Syracuse, and Nicholas W. Day, New 
York, to secure legislation for a state institution. 
A bill was introduced and passed for the estab- 
lishment of this Home, known as Chapter 468 of 
the Laws of 1894, providing that the Governor ap- 
point a commission of nine, six of whom should 
be members of the Woman's Relief Corps and 
three members of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, to locate a site and report to the Legislature 
of 1S95. The following Board was appointed: 
Ellen M- Putnam, Buffalo, Sarah C, Mink, Water- 
town, Edward J. Mitchell, Yonkers, Annie P, 
Cleary, Rochester, Kate E. Jones, Ilion, Richard 
Curran, Rochester, Sarah C. Nichols, Auburn, 
Ada G. Mohr, Brooklyn, Geo. H. Treadwell, Al- 
bany. This Board met in Rochester May 17th, 
1894. and organized. Ellen M. Putnam was 
elected President, Edward J. Mitchell. Secretary, 
and Richard Curran, Treasurer. It was then de- , 
cided to issue a circular giving notification of this 
law, to be sent to every city, town and village in 
the State, asking if in their locality could be 
found a desirable site. August 7, 1894, the com- 
mittee met in Syracuse and found the following 
offers were received, donating one hundred acres, 
from Medina, Batavia, Fair Haven, Oswego, 
Peru, Roxbury, Cold Spring, Cooperstown and 
Oxford. During the month of August these sites 
were visited by the commission and October 
12 the commission met and decided on Oxford, 
Chenango county. The legislature of 1895 appro- 
priated twenty-five thousand dollars and the legis- 
lature of 1896, fifty thousand dollars for building 
purposes. The location is a fine one, situated 
about a mile and a quarter from the village of 
Oxford on a bold eminence, which rises about one 
hundred feet above the Chenango river, hemmed 
in on all sides bv gently rising and rather lofty 




BO.\RD OF MANAGERS W. R. C. HOME. 



54 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



and irregular hills, whose summits are crowned 
with forest growth, presenting a view of varied 
scenery, lovely beyond description. It is the in- 
tention, according to original plan, to have five 
buildings, and to that end a sufficiently large 
electric and steam heating plant exists to supply 
light and heat for the buildings. The four classes 
of persons for whom this Home has been built are, 
the aged, dependent veteran and his wife, vet- 
erans mothers, veterans' widows, and army 
nurses, residents of New York. The require- 
ments of admission to the Home are: First, in the 
case of wives and widows of veterans, that mar- 
riage must have been prior to iSSo; second, for 
the veteran, a certificate of honorable discharge 
from the United States service; third, one year's 
residence in the state ; fourth, good moral charac- 
ter; fifth, sound mind ; sixth, the existence of no 
relative in the state legally liable for their sup- 
port; seventh, the assignment of pension to the 



Edward E. Breed Post, No. 196, G. A. R,— This 

Post was organized January 2i,iSSi, and named 
afttr Edward Elias Breed, who enlisted in 1862, 
in Co. A., 114th Regiment N. Y. Vols., and 
later became First Lieut of Co. H. At the battle 
of Winchester, Va., he was in command of his 
company. After several Color Bearers had fallen 
and the flag was lying upon the ground near him. 
Lieut Breed seized the colors and bore them for- 
ward until stopped by a bullet in his brea.st from 
which he fell mortally wounded and died soott 
after. The charter members of the Post were; 
Charles Hemenway, John H. Phelps, Henry O. 
Daniels. Thomas C. Pettis, Augustus H. Brill, 
D wight M. Lee, Charles B. Walker, George A. 
Mallory, Solomon F. Mcl'arland, Samuel S. 
Stafford, Bradford G. Greene, James T. Hill, Cor- 
nelius O King, Charles E. Stratton, Isaac S. 
Evans. Wheaton Loomis, "and James B. Brown. 




THE WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPS HOME. 



Treasurer of the Home on entering. This is re- 
quired solely for the purpose of judicious expendi- 
ture by the person to wnom the pension belongs. 
The present building is a brick structure, 90x130 
feet, and two stories in height, built and finished 
in a substanti&l manner and supplied with every 
convenience to make a really pleasant and delight- 
ful home. The Home is now full and contains 
fifty-two inmates, twenty men and their wives, 
seven widows and five veterans' mothers. Appli- 
cations are on file for seventy-six veterans and 
their wives and many for widows and mothers. 
The Home is under the superintendency of Mrs. 
Ellen M. Putnam, who is managing all its multi- 
farious and intricate departments in a very success- 
ful manner. At the death of Sarah C. Mink, Gov. 
Morton appointed Mrs. Margaret A. Hibbard to 
the vacany. Mrs. Laura Clarke of Oxford was ap- 
pointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- 
tion of Ellen M Putnam who was chosen by the 
Board to the position of Superintendent. 



The first officers of the Post were: D wight M. 
Lee, commander: Samuel S Stafford, sen. vice 
com. ; Charles Hemenway, jun. vice-com. ; Augus- 
tus H. Brill, adjutant; James B. Brown, quarter- 
master; Solomon F. McFarland, surgeon; Henry 
O Daniels, otKcer of the day; Cornelius O King, 
officer of the guard ; George A. Mallorj', inside 
sentinel : Thomas C. Pettis, quartermaster ser- 
geant. Since then the commanders of the Post 
have been: Oscar H. Curtis, Solomon F. Mc- 
Farland, LaFayette Moore, Samuel S. Stafford, 
John H. Phelp>, Charles M. Dodge and James D. 
Smith. The present ofiicers of the Post are; 
Charles M. Dodge, commander; George Lamb, 
sen. vice com ; Willis A. Carl, jun. vice-com.; 
John R. Norris. adjutant; Samuel S. Stafford, 
quartermaster; George W Levvis, surgeon; Uri 
VanTassell, officer of the day; Thomas Torrey, 
officer of the guard; and Charles Hemenway, 
Edgar Waters and Leonard G. Lindsey, relief 
committee. For nearly twelve years after the or- 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



55 



ganization of the Post, no member was lost by 
death; during the last four years and nine months 
eight members have thus been mustered out. An 
elegant blank volume for a record of Personal 
War Sketches has lattly been presented by Mr. 
Francis G. Clarke. The present membership of 
the Post is forty-three. Regular meetings are 
held every second and fourth Friday evening of 
each month, at the A. O. U. W. rooms on Navy 
Island. 

Edward E. Breed Women's Relief Corps, No. 217, 
was organized December 7, 1894, by Mrs. Kate E. 
Jones, Past Department President, of Ilion, N. Y., 
with thirty charter members: Mary A. Staflford, 
Emma A. Harrington, Harriet L. Gleason, Jane 



Eccleston, Guard; Caroline R. Hemenway, As- 
sistant Guard; Charlotte N. Thorp, Delegate; 
Sarah D. Lewis, Alternate. The Corps has lost 
one member by death, and the present member- 
ship is thirty-five. It is a strong organization and 
has already contributed nearly five hundred and 
fifty dollars in charitable work. Regular meetings 
of the Corps are held on the second and fourth 
Tuesdays of each month, at Red Men's hall. 
Navy Island. The present officers are: Mary A. 
Staftord, President; Charlotte N. Thorp, Senior 
Vice-President; Ellen M. Burchard, Junior Vice- 
President; Jane M. Parsons, Chaplain; Marania 
Greene. Treasurer; Tillie J. Bissikummer, Secre- 
tary; Minnie C. Eccleston, Conductor; Martha J. 
Robinson, Assistant Conductor ; Caroline R. Hem- 




Photos by Burke 



THE WOMEN'S REI.IHF CORPS HOME — INTERIOR VIEWS. 



M. Parsons, Marania Greene. Margaret S. Clarke. 
Ada R. Newkirk, Roxcie M Miller. Minnie C. 
Eccleston, Caroline R. Hemenway, Alcinda En- 
sign, Laura B. Clarke, Susan E. Curtis, Mary 
A. B. Brown, Martha J. Robinson, ]ennette M. 
Cooke, Charlotte N. Thorp, Amanda N. Eccle- 
ston, Ellen M. Burchard Sarah B Corbin, Sarah 
D. Lewis, Sarah Bills, Polly A. Mead, Idella M. 
Perkins, Martha J. Carl. Charlotte L. Comstock, 
Harriet L. Wilcox, Gertrude Harrington, Tillie 
J. Bis.sikummer Elizabeth E. Lee. The first 
officers elected on the institution of the corps 
were: Mary A. Stafford, President; Emma A. 
Harrington, Senior Vice-President; Harriet L. 
Gleason, Junior Vice-President Jane M. Parsons, 
Chaplain; Marania Greene. Treasurer; Margaret 
S. Clarke, Secretary: Ada R. Newkirk, Conductor; 
Roxcie M. Miller, Assistant Conductor ; Minnie C. 



enway. Guard; Martha J. Carl. Assistant Guard, 
Harriet L Gleason. Delegate; Jane M. Parsons, 
Alternate; Harriet L. Gleason, Press Correspond- 
ent. 

Forest Hill Farm.— This is one of the best situ- 
ated, best ordered and most easily cultivated 
among the many first-class farms for which Che- 
nango county is noted. It came into the posses- 
sion of Mr. John E. Miller about a year and a half 
ago, and during that time he has replaced the old 
buildings largely with structures that are neat and 
comfortable and give the place a very tidy and 
thrifty appearance. There are 210 acres of gently 
rolling land, with no side-hills that are more diffi- 
cult to work than the average undulating surface. 
The farm is well watered, having five springs and 
as many wells; has plenty of timber, including 



56 



thp: oxford historical souvenir. 



one 25-acre piece of maple, beech, birch, ash and 
cherry, a sugar bush of 500 trees, an apple orchard 
of grafted fruit which has yielded in one season 
as many as 300 bushels ; pasture and cultivated 
acreage for the support of a dairy of thirty cows 
and from fifty to one hundred sheep, and very 
nice and fertile meadows embracing one piece of 
forty acres. This farm has produced as high as 
seventy-five tons of hay. At one time it .sold 
for $5,700, and since then a great deal of money 
has been put into it. The location is on a high 
plateau overlooking the village of East McDon- 
ough (a mile distant), in the town of McDonough. 



stantial milk house in the door-yard contains the 
vat for cooling the milk. The horse stables and 
carriage house, the oldest buildings on the place, 
are commodious and convenient, fitted with grain 
lockers, and open and box stalls, and are in good 
condition, affording Mr. Miller excellent barn 
room for some of his best horses, should he desire 
to avail himself of it. Stately trees and an abun- 
dance of shrubbery surround the place, making 
it attractive and affording ample shelter from the 
winds and the burning rays of a hot mid-summer 
sun. There is not an acre of land which is not 
tillable or does not afford excellent grazing for 




JOHN E. MILLER'S FARM, McDONOUGH. 



There are two distinct gioups of farm buildings, 
both occupied by men employed about the place 
and their families. The upper set of buildings 
include a two-story residence, with horse stables 
and poultry houses in the rear, and across the 
road the cow barn, 60x24. with bays and aloft for 
hay and grain overhead, and cattle stalls and tool 
and implement storage in the basement; also a 
spacious, well-constructed grainery adjacent. The 
poultry-house, 30x16, properly divisioned by the 
use of wire netting, is well lighted and clean. 
The annual production of poultry is to be made 
no small item in the assets of the place. A sub- 



cattle,- not to mention including sheep, except that 
which is timbered. Near the lower end of the 
farm is a comfortable cottage, recently repaired 
inside and out, with sheds, well and cellar and all 
outlying conveniences. So it will be seen the 
farm accommodates two families as entirely apart 
as though livmg on separate places. Each has 
first-rate gardens, and the production of berries 
is greater than two families usually need. Mr. 
Miller believes that the time is coming when the 
raising of sheep and poultry will be more profita- 
ble than any branch of agriculture. He has made 
better provisions for that purpose than are usually 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



57 



considered. The care of sheep is particularly 
provided for with sheds and a sheep barn 72x54. 
The residences and outbuildings, including the 
dairy and crop barn, are neatly painted. In fact 
all buildings are in thorough order, a statement 
which will not surprise those who are acquainted 
with Mr. Miller. The farm, as every one also 
well knows, is not " a necessity in his business;" 
and while it is an object of considerable expense 
and more or less personal solicitude, it is managed 
with the same business-like method as would be 
expected of a man with his precise and methodi- 
cal habits, whose whole aim and ambition might 
be restricted to agriculture — as it is not. 



for Seeley & Pierce, at Waverly, coming from 
there here and going into business with Mr. Har- 
rington. He is a strong Republican, and a vet- 
eran of the war of 1861-5, having enlisted at Can- 
dor, Tioga county, in Aug., 1862, and served to 
the close of the war in the ioi|th N. Y. Volunteers, 
being wounded in the fight of the Wilderness. He 
is married to Martha J. Harrington, of Bingham- 
ton. He is a member of the Red Men. 

W. E. Cronk was born in the town of Western, 
Oneida county, Oct. [5, 1865. He attended school 
at Booneville, and in i8Sg came to Oxford, going 
into the business of which he is now part owner, as 
a clerk for J. W. Harrington. He is a member of 




Photos by Burke 



\V. E. CRONK. 



CARL & CRONK. 



W. A. C.4RL. 



The Firm of Carl & Cronk was organized in Oct., 
1895, succeeding J. W. Harrington in a business 
which had been established many years, and 
which is today the leading exclusive grocery and 
crockery store in Oxford. The line of goods car- 
ried include the best that can be obtained and 
their customers comprise many of the leading 
families. W. A. Carl, the senior partner has 
made an enviable success of the grocery business 
in this village, since he started, in 1879. He was 
born in Caroline, Tompkins county, N. Y., March. 
15, 1843. He first began grocery trade as clerk 



the Masonic lodge and Independent Order of Red 
Men and the Niagara Hose company. 

Oxford Lodge, No. 151, A. O. U. W., was con- 
stituted April 23. 187S, with seventeen charter 
members. The first officers of the Lodge were as 
follows: O. H. Curtis, past master workman; 
L. A Knott, M. W. ; William Cook, foreman; Dr. 
D. A. Gleason, overseer; E C. Delavan, recorder; 
Dr. D. M. Lee, financier; A. S. Lewis, receiver. 
There have been five deaths since the institution of 
the order, the first occurring March 22, 1880, and 
the last October 5, 1895. 



58 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



The Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated 
Oct. 29, 1S31. The first trustees were Bliss Wil- 
loughby, Nathaniel Wilcox, Caleb Seabury, Everitt 
Judson, Gardner B. Lewis, Elias Widger, Wm. E. 
Chapman, Geo. H. King and Daniel Dudley. 
The Rev. James Atwell was the pastor. There 
was no church edifice at that time, divine worship 
being held in the Academy building. In 1841, 
during the pastorate of the Rev. Wm. Pearne, the 
first church building was erected, which, with 
some repairing and improvements, was used until, 
during the pastorate of Rev. A. W. Cooper, the 
building was 'virtually made new by the expendi- 
ture of about $4, 500. The reopening and dedica- 
tion took place in the month of July, 1SS7. This 
gives the society a very pleasant and comfortable 
place in which to worship. Besides the main au- 
ditorium, which has a seating capacity of 300, 
there are, in the basement, a Sunday school room, 
class rooms and kitchen. The officiary at the 
present is composed of Rev. H. C. McDermott, 
Presiding Elder; Rev. J. H. Little, pastor; board 
of trustees; Geo. B. Fletcher, W. J. Mosier, 
James Burke, G. G. Gndley, W. A. Carl, S. 
Moore and W. D. Willoughby; stewards: W. D. 
WiUoughbv, S. Moore. James Burke, W. J. 
Mosier, G. B. Fletcher, M. D. Aldrich, Seth Bul- 
lock and G. G. Gndley; President of Epworth 
League, Endora Walling; local preacher, Fred R. 
Burke. The following auxiliarv societies are con- 
nected with the church: The Epworth League, 
Woman's Foreign and Home Missionary .Societies, 
Junior Epworth League and the Sunday School. 
The pastors who have served the church since its 
organization and in the order given are: James 
Atwell, Wm. Bowdish, Henry Halstead, Lyman 
Sperry, Geo. Harmon, J. C. Ransom, W. H. 
Pearne, Lyman .Sperry, Wm. Bixby, L. L. Venox, 
Wm. Wyatt, B. Hawley, Z. Paddock, S. Stocking, 
A. S. Graves, J. T. Wright, H. Gee, S. H. Stan- 
ley, A. G. Matter.son, W. R. Cobb, Dwight Wil- 
liams, W. C. Bowen, W. G. Queal, T. P. Halstead. 
S. F. Brown. F. L. Hiller, H. N. Talbot, J. K. 
Peck, S. C. Fulton, L. W. Peck, D. D., J. W. 
Mevis, A. W. Cooper, A. J. VanCleft, W. G. 
Simpson, Wm. Frisby, J. H. Littell. 

J. H. Littell, pastor of the, First M. E. church m 
Oxford, was born in .Sanford, Broome county, N. 
Y., January 4, 1856. He was educated in the 
schools of the state and Wyoming seminary at 
Kingston, Pa., and joined Wyoming conference 
in April, 1S85. being ordained deacon by Bishop 
Fowler in 1S87, and elder by Bishop Foster in 
18S9. He served the following charges: L'^nion- 
dale, Pa. ; Lisle, N. Y. ; Worcester, N. Y. ; Otego, 
N. Y., and commencing the pastorate at Oxford, 
being appointed to that place April, 1897. 

The Epworth League, M. E. Church, is older as 
an organization than the general Epworth League, 
the date of its organization being May, 18S8. Rev. 
A. W. Cooper was then pastor of the church. 
The society as then formed was known as "The 
Young Christians' (_)xford League." It adopted a 
constitution and was governed by a full set of 
by-laws. The first officers were: Counselor, Rev. 
A. W. Cooper; president, H. D. Gaige; first vice- 
president. Burt E. Budney; second vice-president, 
Orrie L. Burton ; recording secretary, Sarah D. 
Stratton ; corresponding secretary. Charles Blood; 
treasurer, Fanny Manning. The >ociety never 
disbanded, but when the Epworth League was 
organized at Cleveland, Ohio. May 14, iSSg, for 
the whole Methodist connection, "The Young 
Christians' Oxford League" adopted the general 
constitution, connected itself with the new society 
and was recognized as chapter Xo. 1731. From 



that time until the present it has been faithfully 
at work for the cause of Christ and righteousness. 
The church has come to recognize it as a most 
helpful body, standing by all good efforts. It 
holds a prayer meeting regularly every Sunday 
evening, a business meeting once a month, beside.s. 
the department meetings. There was reported at 
the last annual conference a membership of 35, 
besides the Junior League with iS members. The 
officers for the present year are: President, 
Endora Walling; first vice-president, M. D. Aid- 
rich; second vice-president, Cora Garrison; third 
vice-president, Alice Waters; fourth vice-presi- 
dent, Mary Burlison ; secretary, Mrs. Seth Bul- 
lock; treasurer, Fred R. Burke. 

The Baptist Sunday School was organized in 
1834, and consisted of four classes under the care 
of Deacon Maine. Samuel Root, Mrs. Lory Perry 
and Maria Maine as teachers. The history of 
the school has been one of growth and prosperity; 
increasing blessings have been ours, and today, 
we have bright and attractive rooms, a library 
with new and interesting books and a school 
which comprises 4 officers, iS teachers and an av- 
erage attendance of 115. The Superintendents 
have been; Randall Maine, 1834-45; Samuel 
Root, 1845-63; D. G. Barber, iS63-'70 and 1872- 
'74; W. L. Beardsley, 1870-72; C. M. Gray, 1874 
-'So and 1881-87; Geo. S. Keyes, 1887-88 ; J. W. 
Cudworth, i888-'go; Geo. R. Bradley, iS90-'g4; 
James D. Smith, 1894-95; Geo. R. Bradley, 1895-. 

The Cyclists. — This exhilarating sport is a 
favorite among the ladies of Delhi. Those who 
may be mentioned as e.xcellent riders are: Mrs. 
J. H. Clarke, .Mrs. J. C. Estelow, Mrs. Z. C. 
Brewster, Mrs. E. S. Brewster, Mrs. P. \'. New- 
kirk, Miss May Corbin and Miss p;dith Packard, 
the latter being one of the younger misses, of 
whom there are not a few. Some of the lady 
riders who have become proficient in the manage- 
ment of the wheel are Miss Anna Hopkins, Miss 
May Pearsall Mis;; .\nna Eccleston. Miss Anna 
Harrison, Mrss May Harrison, Miss Cora Boname, 
Miss Florence Hamilton, Miss Emily Brown. 
Among the professional men of the village who ride 
gracefully and for practical purposes are the Rev. 
Mr. CoUoque, rector of the Episcopal church, acd 
the Rev. Mr. Sutherland, pastor of the Congrega- 
tional society. Mr. Estelow, cashier of the bank, 
clears the maze of figures from his head by a spin 
on the wheel twice a day ; Mr. McNeil, the grocer, 
occasionally turns a mile or two, and Dr. Green 
visits his patients on a wheel and charges nothing 
for the best of his antidotes, that smile and good 
cheer which come from wheeling. 

County Driving Distances. — From Oxford to Af- 
ton, i5j^ m; Bennettsville. 15 m; Bainbridge, 12 
m; Burdick's settlement, 22', m; Coventryville, 
834" m; Coventry P. O. , g m; Chenango Forks, 
l8|4f m; Columbus, 20 '3 m; East Greene, 6'^ m; 
East German. t)'/2 m; East McDonough, ^i^ m; 
East Pharsalia, 10 m; Earlville, 20J3' m; East 
Guilford. 12 m; Guilford, 6 m; Guilford Centre. 
7K in: German P. O., 13^3 m; Greene, iij.^ ra; 
Holraesville. 11 'j m; Lincklaen, 21)^ m; Mount 
Upton. II '/i m; McDonough, gj-^ m; Norwich, 
-'yi m; North Norwich, I2|4f m; New Berlin, 18;^ 
m; North Pitcher, 16'yi m; North Pharsalia, 12^ 
m; Otselic, 2oJ^ m; Plymouth. 12', m; Preston 
P. O., hy^ m; Pitcher Spring. 15^^ m; Pitcher, 
16 J^ m; Pharsalia, 13 J^ m; Rockdale, 11 m; 
South New Berlin, I2J4 ra; South Plymouth, g^/ 
m; Sherburne, 17 m; Smyrna, 17 m; South Ot- 
selic, 17 m; Smithville Flats, 11 m; Upperville, 
18 m ; Union Valley, ig J^ m ; Van Buren Corners, 
0^ m; White's Store P. O., 10;^ m; West Bain- 
bridge, 9 ' . m. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



59 




JAMES W. GLOVER. 
James W. Glover, one of the early residents of 
Oxford, was a lawyer of eminent ability, known 
throughout the state in connection with some im- 
portant cases, and a citizen who displayed marked 
interest in matters conserving the weal of the 
community. A studentof Henry R. Mygatt, whose 
office he entered for the study of law when eigh- 
teen years of age, he partook of that strong 
personality for which the former was noted, and 
which invariably impressed all whoknewhim. In 
the celebrated contest for the seat in the State 
Senate of 1874-75 between James G. Thompson 
of Norwich and William Youraans of Delhi, Mr. 
Glover was retained as attorney for the defence. 
The district comprised the counties of Chenango, 
Delaware and Schoharie. The face of the returns 
showed a majority of one for Mr. 
Thompson. Mr. Youmans contest- 
ed the election, and the senate 
committee on privileges and elec 
tions, of which Dan Cole of Or- 
leans was chairman, spent all or a 
part of the summer taking evidence 
through the district. Associated 
as counsel with Mr. Glover in be- 
half of Mr. Thompson was the late 
and distinguished Albanv lawyer, 
Henry C. Smith, who, however, 
did very little in trying the case 
outside of Schoharie county, so 
that the burden of the respondent 
rested on Mr. Glover, and the result 
was the showing of a sulistantial 
majority for his client. He was 
also engaged in the defence of 
Judge Horace G. Prindle. who was 
brought to trial on impeachment 
proceedings before the State Sen- 
ate in June, 1872, charged with 
malfeasance in office. Mr. H. R. 
Mygatt was also retained in this 
case. Mr. Glover was an uncom- 
promising republican, who re- 
spected honest opposition in poli- 
tics and had the most profound 
contempt for mugwumpery. No 
vocabulary was too strong for his 
denunciations of party deserters. 
So bitter was he toward the New photo by Burke. 



York Times, to which he had for years been 
a subscriber, for its support of Cleveland 
in 1884 that he wrote a strong and sarcastic 
letter, a copy of which is now in possession 
of his son, ordering his paper stopped, in which 
appears the following: "When I renewed my 
subscription to the Times it was with the belief 
and supposition that the Times was and was to be 
a Republican paper. No Democratic paper or assis- 
tant Democratic paper in its new born zeal would 
have been taken by me. How beautiful its course 
and standing! The New York Times supporting 
Grover Cleveland on account of his purity of 
character ! The New York Times supporting 
the copperhead Hendricks, who in the year 1876 
it charged with being a member of the 
Knights of the Golden Circle, and a traitor to the 
country. What a spectacle!' Mr. Glover was 
not a man who indulged in office-holding, but 
could be depended upon to assist others. He 
served as a supervisor one term and for eighteen 
years was the postmaster of Oxford, a position he 
cared more fur because of the endorsement it 
ijave him as a party warrior. He was horn in 
< ixford, August 22, 1S22, his father, James A. 
(Slover, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere, 
Ijcing an early settler. He was educated at the 
O.xford academy, which institution he so zealously 
supported up to his death, serving as a trustee antL 
president for several years. In 1840 he began the 
study of law with Henry R Mygatt and in 1843. 
was admitted to the bar. Up to within seven 
years of his death, when a lingering and severe 
affliction compelled him to retire from active 
life, his was a busy career, ever faithful in 
his attachment to his native town and ac- 
tive in its welfare. During a few months 
in 1 85 1 he was associated with George Rath- 
bun, of Auburn, and though his prospects 
there were more promising, he could not content 
himself to a home elsewhere than Oxford, to 
which place he returned, living here until his 
death, which occurred Nov. 21, iSg6. During the 
last five months he was confined to the house and 
for a longtime he was bereft of speech. His death 
caused sorrow among numerous neighbors and 
friends. A prominent member of St. Paul's 




i")i«ffftcr^iv' 



JOHN R, (..LOVER'S RESIDENCE. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



church, he was elected a vestryman in 1853 and 
re-elected in 1855 and each year thereafter until 
1874, when he was chosen one of the wardens, 
being the senior warden at the time of his death. 
In the resolutions adopted by the officers of that 
church its highest obligations were acknowledged 
for the " faithfulandzealousperformanceof every 
duty devolved upon him in his official relations to 
the parish," as well as for " the liberality he had 
shown in contributing time and means in the up- 
building of the church;" further: "The superior 
qualities exhibited by him in the church and in his 
profession made his influence felt in all his rela- 
tions in life. He was a faithful and loyal friend. 
Wrong-doing, cant, hypocrisy, meanness and 
time-serving received his severest condemnation, 
but he was always a fearless champioo of right 
■and truth.' The trustees of the O-xford academy 
resolved "That we have heard with much sadness 
of the death of James W, Glover, who for twenty- 
five years a member, and five years the president 
of this board, was a willing contributor to the 
support and maintenance of Oxford academy, 
zealous for her honor and prosperity and helpful 



been recognized in many ways. He served as 
clerk of the Board of Supervisors in 1879. '81-2, 
and in iS35-'89; also as justice of the peace, 
which position he now holds, for six years. He 
is a member of Niagara Hose Company in 
which he has been honored by election to all com- 
pany offices and is Chief of the Fire Department, 
now serving his second terra (i8S4and 1807). 
On May ig, iSSo, he married Miss Lillie Hen- 
stock of Montrose, Pa. He has been member of 
the Republican county committee several years, 
acting as its secretary and treasurer. He has 
served as Reading Clerk since 1S94, and his pro- 
ficiency in that capacity is recognized. They 
have two children, James W., and Anna H. 

The Oxford Branch, No. 53, National Associa- 
tion of Stationary Engineers, is in a flourishing 
condition and gives promise of proving beneficial 
to the profession in this vicinity. That such an 
organization can be made as pronounced a suc- 
cess as this has shown itself to be, in a town of 
the size of Oxford, is evidence of having the right 




THE OXFORD STATIONARY ENGINEERS' ROOMS. 



in whatever concerned her well-being and useful- 
ness. " Mr. Glover married Sarah A. . the daughter 
of Erastus Perkins, of Oxford. She died Nov. 
14, 1S92. They left one child, Mr. John R, Glover, 
who resides at the old home on Washington park 
in this village, 

John R. Glover, the Reading Clerk of the New 
York State Assembly, has a pleasant home in 0,x- 
ford, where he was born, July 28, 1856, and where 
he has always resided, except during the sessions 
of the legislature, when he makes his home in 
Albany, his family usually accompanying him. 
His father, James W. Glover, whose sketch ap- 
pears elsewhere, was an eminent lawyer, and 
upon his death the son assumed the business and 
■continued in the same office. The subject of this 
sketch was educated in the Oxford Academy, 
afterwards studying law with his father and in 
January, 1S80. being admitted to the bar at Al- 
bany. He is an active and enthusiastic republi- 
can, believing thoroughly in party organization 
and standing firm and loyal by it. From a boy 
he has worked for the party and his services have 



sort of membership and excellent management, 
as well as having been started in the proper way. 
It was organized as recently as May 15, 1897, and 
yet very nicely furnished and convenient quarters 
are maintained, provided with a library, engineer- 
ing publications and periodicals, newspapers, cata- 
logues, sample steam gauges and fittings, oil cups, 
models of engines and other appliances of the 
trade, which may afford the members instruction 
and study. The object of the Association is for 
"the better education of its members in the art 
and science of steam engineering, and to afl^ord 
them legal protection when unjustly assailed by 
other organizations in their vocation." As an as- 
sociation, the members are prohibited from en- 
couraging strikes or in any way interfering be- 
tween employers and employes. Engineers of 
' one year's actual running experience," who can 
pass the examination, are eligible to membership. 
The Association is not to be used for political or 
religious purposes, but it may take any proper 
action to secure such legislation as shall best give 
security to life and property in the generation and 
transmission of steam as a motive power. The 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




T W. ROBINSON'S RESIDENCE. 

Photo bv Burke. 
Oxford branch was organized mainly through the 
efforts of Mr. Asa P. Hyde, a former memljer of 
No, 12 of Binghamton, with the following charter 
members: James L. Guile, William E. Dunn, 
R. B. Stratton, Seymour Fleming, John L. Brown, 
Arvine S. Lewis. Clark L. Webb. John F. Zieman, 
W. E. Skinner, A. E. Halbert, H. J. Eccleston, 
Jesse J. Brown, Asa P. Hyde The rooms to 
which reference has been made are very attrac- 
tive, as the accompanying illustration shov/s. 
They are in the Van Der Lyn block, and there the 
mumbers have regular meetings on the first and 
third Saturdays of each month. The furnishings 
include every convenience for the study of the 
science to which the rooms are devoted, including 
blackboards, upon which explanations are more 
readily made by means of diagrams. The Asso- 
ciation has certainly done well in providing such 
an abundance of equipments in so short a time. 
The officers are; President, Asa P. Hyde; vice- 
president, R. C. Stratton; recording and corres- 
ponding secretarv, A. E. Halbert; financial sec- 
retary and treasurer, A. S. Lewis; conductor, 
Seymour Fleming; doorkeeper, W. E. Dunn; 
trustees, W. E. Skinner, C. L. Webb and John L. 
Brown. 

Thomas W. Robinson has been engaged in the 
meat business since i896,and he 
now has a market on Main 
street, fitted up with the con- 
veniences and furnished in the 
style that does credit to its 
proprietor. The building, a 
three-story structure with a 
good cellar, was purchased of 
William Balcom by Mr. Rob- 
inson in May, iSqa. A good 
deal of money was expended 
in tearing out the interior and 
refitting it. At that time Mr. 
Robinson was conducting a 
market in the old structure 
which stood on the site of the 
present bank building at the 
corner of Main and South Canal 
streets, where in the fall of 1879 
he had bought an interest in the 
market with E. S. Tansey. In 
18S0 William Cook succeeded 
Mr. Tansey, and the following 
year sold out to Mr. Robinson, 
since which time he has con- 
ducted the business as sole 
proprietor, being assisted by 
his son Linn. The market is 
75x25, finished in graining and 
furnished with marble slabs 
for the arrangement of meats. Photo by Burke 



The refrigerator has a capacity equal to 
that of many city markets, but the business 
done at this place is considerable and there 
IS not more room than is absolutely required. 
Mr Robinson was born in Ampthill, Beds.. 
England, March 21, 1S45. Coming to this, 
country in April, 1S71, he at once located in 
Oxford, where the first year he was em- 
ployed by L A. Knott; subsequently and 
until he went into the meat business, fol- 
lowing the trade of a carriage trimmer. On 
August 28, 1872, he married Martha E. , the 
daughter of Eli Bartoo of Brisbin. He is a 
member of the Masonic lodge. 

Willooghby & Fletcher, millers, succeeded 
to one of the oldest milling plants in the 
county. The dam was built about the 
year 1792, and the mill about the same 
time. The mill on South Canal Street 
recently vacated and now converted into- 
stores, in years past was used for grist, saw, 
plaster and woolen mills, passing from one 
owner to another until finally it became the prop- 
erty of E M. Tower, and on April 12, 18S6, passed 
into the hands of George S. Keyes. Upon the 
death of the latter, between two and three years, 
later, William D. Willoughby and David G. Bar- 
ber, as executors, took charge of the business and 
carried it on until it was disposed of at executor's 
sale to Mr. Willoughby, who later admitted 
George B. Fletcher as an equal partner. It was 
on March 17, 1S94, that the firm was organized. 
The mill was then closed up and used for storage 
purposes until 1896, when it was reopened, Wil- 
loughby & Fletcher in the meantime having 
equipped the stone mill they now occupy on the 
east side of the river. During the fall and winter 
of 1896-97 they ran both mills, and in the spring 
of 1897 the old one was stripped of the machinery 
and sold out. The new mill comprises three floors 
and has three run of stone for feed, and a set of 
rollers with bolts for wheat or buckwheat, the 
total capacity being 200 or 225 cars. The mill is 
in excellent trim and very convenient to reach, 
having entrances on East Main street and Fort 
Hill Square. William D. Willoughby was born 
February 10. 1833, 0° the farm he now owns and 




T. W. ROBINSON'S MEAT MARKET. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




BRADFOKD G LrREENE. 
occupies, which comprises 2.^4 acres, and a part of 
which was originally purchased and settled by 
Bliss Willoughby, his grandfather, who came from 
Connecticut in 1S04, and who died on the place in 
his eighty-second year Then John B. Wil- 
loughby, father of William, owned it and also 
ditd there. May 12, 18S5, at the age of S3 year-;. 
His wife, who was Nancy Shapley, died October 
IQ, iSg7, at the venerable age of 91 years and 4 
months. William Willoughby is a member and 
for fifteen years a trustee of the Methodist church. 
On September 18. 1S61, he married Lucy E. Wil- 
cox (born October 22, 1S35). Mr. Willoughby has 
engaged very largely in buying up and shipping 
horses and cattle. George B. Fletcher was born 
in Sidney, Delaware county, December 10, 1S41. 
When he was very young his parents moved to 
Afton. He was educated at the Unadilla Acad- 
emy. In 18S1 he went to Williamsport, Pa., to 
engage in the milk business, coming to Oxford in 
1886 and working the Corn Hill farm, a very con- 
veniently and attractively located place in the 
western outskirts of the village, where he now 
lives, until he went into partnership with Mr. 
Willoughby. He married Amanda C. Eaton, de- 
scendant of an old Oxford family, March 12, 
1873. Mr. Fletcher is a trustee of the Methodist 
church. 

Bradford G. Greene left a 
monument to his public 
spirit and his untiring devo- 
tion to public improvement 
— the record of an earnest 
and zealous effort in behalf 
of a new public school. So 
it was with him in respect 
to every enterprise that 
calls for the practical demon- 
stration of individual appli- 
cation of local pride. He 
was always ready to en- 
courage public or individual 
enterprise. But Mr. Greene 
lived just long enough to see 
the material fruition of his 
wishes. The school build- 
ing was fairly in process of 
construction at the time 
of his death, which oc- 
curred suddenly on Decem- 



ber 6, i8g6. The son of Frederick and Sophia 
(Baldwin) Greene, he was born in Steuben county, 
April if), 1839. His parents were Oxford people 
who had moved away at the time, but who re- 
turned when he was two or three years old. He 
was educated at the Oxford Academy, and upon 
leaving school entered the office of Dr. Eccleston 
to learn dentistry. In October, i8bi, he enlisted 
in the navy, being assigned to duty as surgeon 
and steward on the gunboat Port Royal, and 
afterwards in transport service. In 1863 he en- 
tered the merchant marine, where he continued 
two years, serving under his flag at many Euro- 
pean stations, principallv in the Mediterranean. 
Returning to Oxford in 1865, he resumed dentistry, 
which he continued a short time, and was soon 
after engaged at the jeweler's bench in the store 
of H. H. Cady. A year later Coville & Moore 
succeeded Cady, and Mr. Greene continued with 
them for about sixteen vears, in the meantime 
taking the ticket and express agency for the N. 
Y. , O. &■ W. R, R., and subsequently adding the 
coal business, all of which his wife assumed upon 
his death and is now continuing with success. 
Mr. Greene was active m social circles and a man 
of pleasing address, who made numerous friends 
and attained much popularity. He was kind to 
all, with a good word everywhere, having a most 
agreeab e disposition and occasionally a dash of 
jocularity, enjoying fun at the right time and ap- 
preciating humor. He was an enthusiast in local 
G. A. R. matters, being a member of Breed Post; 
as he was also of Oxford Lodge, F. & A. M. 
Making a success of the coal business, he was first 
to take an interest in such other enterprises as 
might commend themselves to a keen business 
man, notably the Excelsior Mutual Insurance 
Company, of which he was one of the incorpora- 
tors and at the time of his death a director and a 
member of the executive committee. In fact the 
directors of that company recognized his business 
capacity in a set of resolutions which they adopted 
at that time setting forth their loss of one who 
spent as much time aud energy as he did in the 
development of the company, "cheerfully, faith- 
fully, interestedly and without expectation of ade- 
quate compensation." The Board of Education 
also passed resolutions of regret in which they 
acknowledged his services in behalf of the school, 
declaring that he was largely instrumental in pro- 
cur. ng the adoption of the Union Free School 
system and the passage of the necessary resolu- 
tions to provide for the erection of the building. 
The funeral on December g, was the occasion of 
the general suspension of business, the several 
organizations of which he was a member attend- 
ing in a body. Rev. W. T. Sutherland, of the 




Photo bv Bmku. WILl.oi I illi:v \ FLETCHER'S MILL. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR 



63 



Congregational church, conducted the services. 
Mr. Greene was a Republican and was drawn into 
active political work soon after his return to Ox- 
ford, about which time he was elected collector 
for the town. Upon the election of Harrison he 
■was appointed postmaster, which position he oc- 
cupied four yearsand eight months. On Septera- 
"ber 7, 1870, he married Marania Sisson, of Nor- 
wich. One son, Fred B., resides at Greenfield, 
Mass., and a son, Harry, at Oxford; also a sister, 
Miss Clara Greene, at Grand Rapids, Mich. 

KEY TO THE FIREMEN OF OXFORD. 

[The four nmcers. A, B, C and D are in the center nf the 
plate The companies are fi:rouped together beginning: to 
number at the upper left hand corner of the plate and 
running across from left to right, as one reads the lines of 
a book — .SEE Page 31 |. 
A— Chief: John R. GL.ver (Niagara Hose Co.) 
B— Asst. Chief; John Lewis (foreman, iSteamer Co.) 
D- Secretary: James P, Morgan (Steamer Co.) 
C— Treasurer: Frederick Burchard (treasurer, Niagara). 

Sai'PHO Hose Co. 47 Taylor. James. 

I Foreman, G. P. Mead. 4S VVelLs. Robt. 
z Seij'y. N. P. Stanton. hook and I-ADDER Co. 

3 Baldwin, R H. ^^ Foreman, Jas. D. Smith. 

4 Bentley, W. A Sec & Treas., F. P. New- 

5 Bissikummer, J. W. ■■ \i\rk. 

6 Burke, F. R. Coville, LeRoy. 

7 Casey, E. M. f^ Curtis H A 

8 Harrison, Judson. Dodee, C.' m'. 

q Hayes, C S Dolan, Martin, 

ao Hicks, Albert. =* Dunn, W. E. 

II Lewis, A. L ,^ Eccleston, Noyes. 

'" ^.'^Zh^'^J^ .. 57 Knott, L. A. 

13 McNeil, Fred. ^g Lamb, George. 

14 Morton, b J Lewis, G. W. 
'! f°™1,7' ^'"- w T 60 Philley. I. L. 

16 \ an Wagenen, W. L. g, Porter, Walker. 

Steamer Co. No.i. 62 Randall, Levy. 

17 Asst. Foreman, James63 Tracy, Fred. 

Oldfield 64 Waters, Edgar. 

18 Sec'y, Will M. Hinman. 65 Wheeler, G. R. 

,Q Treas , CM Huffman. Niagara Hose Co. 

20 Bentley,!. J. 6g Foreman. C. H. Church. 

21 Kowers, L. K. J Assistant Foreman, Wm, 

22 Bowers, Luther. H. Dunne. 

23 Bowers, C.L. gg Sec'y, T. A. Brown. 

24 Byrne, M. J. 5 Bartlett, Charles. 

25 Fisher, Emmet. Coogan. John. 

26 Fleming, Seymour. ' Cronk W E 

27 Gibbon, M. H. ^3 Dalton, Irving. 

73 Gifford, E. R. 

74 Harrington, J. W. 

75 Hemingway, C. 
7(5 Kirschner, A. E. 

77 Lewis, E. 

78 Lillis, J. J. 

79 Moulton. G. A. 

80 Newkirk, Frank. 

81 Newkirk, Peter V. 

82 Pangburn, Chas. 

83 Rorapaugh, Fred. 

84 Rugg, George. 

85 Sanford, L. G. 

86 Stratton, G. T. 

87 Stratton. H. C. 

88 Stratton, V. D. 
8g Tew, Elmer. 
90 Titus, B, 



28 Hall. N. J 

2q Hatch. Ed. 

30 Hatch. John. 

31 Hendrickson, Henn 

32 Holdredge. Geo. 

33 Hurlburt, Fred. 

34 Husted. Myron. 

35 Hyde, Asa P. 

36 Keyes. A 

37 Johnson, Charles. 

38 Keenan, Thomas. 

39 King. J. F. 

40 Matthewson, Miner. 

41 Mowrv. Fred. 

42 Nesmith, W. 

43 Quackenbush, G. W 

44 Sanders. Leland. 

45 Shufelt, DeWitt. 

46 Stratton, La Verne. 

Impressions of Oxford. — If one should step out 
from the New York train on the Ontario &- Wes- 
tern railroad at 4:00 a. m. in August, at the station 
•called ••O.xfrd," he would find himself at the top 
of a tall hill, in a clear, crisp atmosphere, with 
nothing in sight but a sea of fog rolling down the 
valley below. No town can be seen. But he is 
bundled into a 'bus and jolted down a seemingly 
endless hill. By the time he nears the valley, no 
fog is to be seen, but trees, trees innumerable are 
revealed, with an occasional church spire to an- 
nounce the existence of a town. 

The bus takes the road past a pretty little park, 
the pride of the village, and about which are sit- 
uated many attractive residences. It may be at 
one of these that he is to stop, or he may go on 
over a hill, which is said to have been artificially 
built by the Indians as a biirial mound, and later 
used for the location of a fort by the " pale-faces" 
-who thought they had a better right to it. 

On he goes, over the river and through the busi- 
ness part of the town, where his conception of 
•Oxford receives a severe shock, even though it be 



relieved to some extent by the handsome, new 
bank building. But Oxfordians are not proud of 
some of their business blocks. " They will do," 
and "that is good enough." Let us show our 
visitor the prettier parts of town. 

On reaching his destination, tired and thirsty, 
he is warml}' welcomed and hospitably received. 
The water is so clear, so pure, that he asks 
whence it comes, and is told, "from springs on 
the hills." It is almost chemically pure. Aqua 
pura indeed it is. 

After he has become rested, he is introduced to 
the towns'-people, and possibly a reception or 
party is given in his honor, for Oxford is a social 
town in the summer-time, and scarce three or four 
days go by without some special function. On 
first acquaintance, the people seem a little distant 
and cold, though he cannot complain that they are 
not everything that refinement can demand. But 
on better acquaintance he finds them true and 
firm, made of the stuff he can rely upon, and 
which makes friends who wear. 

He is a college man, of course, who has come 
among us, and he linds many college men and 
women in town who are ready to have a little 
" word scrap," as the German expressively puts 
it, with respect to the merits of the colleges which 
they love the best. But no ill-feeling is ever de- 
veloped. 

But now the conversation is turned to the 
schools at which these young people have been 
prepared. The ancient Oxford academy of course 
is paramount, the institution which all Oxonians 
love, founded in the wilderness, when Oxford 
consisted of only a few scattered houses, built 
before the church even, and which has flourished 
and each year graduated its portion of refined and 
well educated natives. This has, of course, had 
its influence on the character and tone of the 
town, and this in part explains why there is so 
much culture and refinement to be met with in 
this little place. The more than the century of 
its existence has left its mark on the successive 
generations of Oxonians. 

Our friend is to stay only a short time, but be- 
fore he goes, we must take him up the river in 
the naphtha launch. We point out to him the 
lower cove, where we enjoy the skating when we 
are home on our Christmas vacation, and the 
pretty little "Willow Point Cottage," which is 
always brilliantly lighted up at night. On we go, 
up this winding and most picturesque Chenango, 
enjoying this lazy-man's way of getting over the 
water, and pass the power-house of the Soldiers' 
Home, and the "Tramps' Camp," where we count 
twenty-eight of the so-called "Hoboes." On 
reaching " Feeder Dam," which was once the 
feeder of the old canal, we disembark and go up 
on the mason-work, and tumble off. But we are 
now discovering that Oxford air makes us hun- 
gry, so let us get back. Perhaps we may be able 
to come again. 

Our friend feels that he can stay no longer, 
although he would very much like to do so, he has 
had such a good time. So we see him off on the 
valley road, and his last words are: "I swear I 
will come back again as soon as I possibly can." 
He, like all others who ever come to this village, 
has the well known " Oxford fever,' which brings 
all back some time, to renew old pleasures and re- 
fresh old memories. — [Orrok Paul Coli.oque. 

The Ladies' Whist Club is one of the leading so- 
cial organizations which has flourished for two 
years. The club has been in the habit of meeting 
bi-weekly at the residences of the members. 
Those composing the club are Mrs. J. R. Van 
Wagenen, Mrs. Charles W. Brown, ^Irs. O. H. 
Curtis, Mrs. J. G. Van Wagenen, Mrs. S. E. 
Brown, Mrs. M. D. McNeil, Mrs. J. W. Bissi- 
kummer, Mrs. H. J. Galpin, Mrs. F. S. Millard. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



John W. Bissikummer conducts one of the largest 
drug stores in the country, carrying a large line 
of all kinds of drugs and patent medicines, notions 
and toilet articles, and especially wall paper and 
borders, not forgetting to mention an extensive 
supply of tobaccos and cigars The store is in the 
two-story stone building on North Canal street, 
at the head of Lafayette Square. It comprises the 
main salesroom, the prescription, the chemical 
and the wall paper, carpet and oil cloth depart- 
ments. He came to Oxford in 1885, and was em- 
ployed as a clerk for James B. Brown until 1890, 
when he succeeded him in the business. This was 
followed by increasing his stock and extending the 
trade so that to-day it is second to none in the 
village and is equivalent lo many retail city drug 
stores in variety of goods sold and amount of 
business done annually. He was born in Albanv. 




INTERIORS OF JOHN W. BISSIKUM.MER'S DRUG Sr 
Jan. 3, 1856, and was graduated at the High 



School in that city, afterwards taking a course in 
the New York College of Pharmacy, at which he 
was graduated in 1873. He was with Sautter, on 
Pearl St.. and afterwards with Gaus also in busi- 
ness in Buffalo, 1874-9 and in Utica, from which 
place he came to Oxford 1879-S5. He is a director in 
the Excelsior Mutual Insurance Co.. and a charter 
member of the local tribe of Red Men, in which 
fraternity he is known all over the state, having 
occupied the high post of Great Sachem of the 
great council. In 1S77 he married Miss Kirchner, 
of Troy. 

The Ladies' Village Improvement Society is enti- 
tled to a great deal of credit for the work it has 
accomplished in effecting public improvement. 



It is due to the ladies that the beautiful Washing- 
ton Park, with its velvety lawns and ornamental 
shrubbery, is made to take the place of an open 
and unimproved plot of mud; that Lafavette 
Square is made attractive by a neatly curbed grass 
plot with a fountain playing in the center; that a 
street sprinkler, which the society owns, is in con- 
stant use in the summer keeping down the dust. 
The ladies get no compensaiion, yet they perform 
many unthankful tasks because they are public- 
spirited. By means of a New England supper 
annually and a course of winter entertainments, 
and occasionally by diplomacy, it may be said, 
they raise a neat sum every year which is ex- 
pended in beautifying the streets and squares. 
Since 1882 they have raised and e.xpended the 
sum of $4.169- 34- The society has a constitution 
and by-laws and the membership is limited to 
twenty. ( >n Septembers. 1879, a meeting of the 
ladies of Oxford was held to de- 
vise ways and means of construct- 
ing a park on Lafayette Square, 
Mrs. F. P. Newkirk presiding. 
Mrs. D. B, Smith was elected 
president; Mrs. H. E. Lewis, vice- 
' '"^^ tJL president; Mrs. F. P. Newkirk, 

' ^^^ 'ftT'A treasurer; Mrs. C. A. Bennett. Jr., 

l4i|^ ,^^J secretary. A board of directors 

fl^^V^TP^ and an executive committee were 

also appointed. They then went 
to work with a will, fully deter- 
mined to accomplish the object in 
view. Money was raised by giv- 
ing entertainments and a subscrip- 
tion started, which ranged from 
$5,00 to two cents. Among the 
names of subscribers we notice 
that of EliCorbin, S. H. Farnham, 
S. Bundy, J. Fred Sands, F. E. 
Billings, Mrs. H. L. Miller, Mrs. 
N. A. VanWagenen, Mrs. H. R. 
Mygatt and many others, who en- 
couraged the work, while the ma- 
jority said, "You can never ac- 
complish it." The first New Eng- 
land supper was given in 1880, and 
has proved a pleasant and success- 
ful annual entertainment. On 
June I, 1881, a committee of three 
was appointed by the board of 
trustees to decide upon the grad- 
ing and curbing of a park on La- 
fayette Square, 180 by 62 feet. 
The expense of grading, curbing, 
obtaining water and setting the 
fountain was $1,000. The foun- 
tain was given as a memorial to 
the late Calvin Cole by his sons at 
a cost of $1,000. ( )n July 17, 18S4, 
the fountain was formally pre- 
sented to the village of Oxford. 
The exercises were opened by Ma- 
jor O. H. Curtis, who introduced 
Mr. Irving T. Cole, who made the present- 
ation speech. Dr. D. M. Lee, president of 
the village. replied in acceptance of the gift A poem 
by Miss Lucy Balcom was read by Rev. L. F. Moore. 
The Hon. William H. Hyde delivered a finely writ- 
ten dedication address. In 1882 the society reor- 
ganized under the name of the Ladies' Village Im- 
provement Society, to consist of twenty members. 
They have taken care of the parks, given lecture 
courses, bought opera chairs and a street sprinkler 
(Studebaker's best), at a cost of S300. 30. They 
are also a committee known as the firemen's 
relief, to make coffee and provide refreshments in 
case of fire. The present officers are; Mrs. C. 
H. Eccleston, President ; Miss Adelaide Mead, 
Vice-President; Mrs. J. Thorp, Treasurer; Mrs. 
Edward Gray, Secretary. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



65 



Kenotah Tribe, No. 105, 1. O. of R. M.— It is one 

of the characteristics of our people to be members 
of various organizations, social, fraternal, or bene- 
ficiary, and it is a practice to be encouraged ; con- 
tact with their fellow-men has a tendency 
to broaden their ideas, enlighten their minds and 
build up character, and it is for the purpose of 
bringing attention to one of the leading fraternal 
organizations that exists, this short sketch is sub- 
mitted. Secret societies are classified as social, 
fraternal, beneficiary or political. Some exist for 
the purpose of development in one particular line, 
while others have a combination of all the titles 
enumerated. The Improved Order of Red Men 
comes under the latter class, with the exception of 
the political feature. As a social, benevolent and 
fraternal organization it has no equal, and its 
growth during the last 10 years excites the envy of 
others who date back many years longer than ours. 
Our name has often caused comment, and the 
minds of those who are not acquainted with its 
features are apt to compare it with the Indians, as 
we know them at present. A celebrated General 
is quoted as saying, based upon his experience 
with the red men, that in his estimation, the only 
real good Indian he knew was a dead Indian. He 
may have been justified in that assertion. The 
Indian of to-day and his condition can be traced 
to his contact with the pale face or white people. 
It is not our intention to enter into the reasons o( 
his present condition, but rather to call attention to 
the original American Indian as he was when this 
continent was his and he knew no master. Four 
hundred years ago this continent was peopled by 
a race, the noblest type of man in his natural 
state that has ever been discovered. Loyal, brave, 
free, intelligent, steadfast in their friendships, 
they had many virtues which the civilized nations 
might emulate. In their code no such crime as 
theft is mentioned; contrast them with our later- 
day "kleptomaniacs," defaulters and embezzlers. 
The legends of the primitive red men prove their 
courage, loyalty, kindness, and moral worth ; with 
them a kindness was never forgotten, a pledge 
sacredly kept. The hand of friendship was never 
extended unless the heart accompanied it. In 
many ways were they remarkable people, and is is 
a sad commentary that through contact with a supe- 
rior race, the downfall of a once powerful nation was 
accomplished. It is these virtues characteristic 
of the original Red Men that the Improved Order 
of Red Men desire to emulate and teach in their 
ritualistic ceremonies. Our order had not a little 
to do with the struggle for Independence in 1776, 
and it is with pride that the Red Men point to the 
part played by them in those trying times. The 
history of the United States tells us of the societies 
known as the Sons of Liberty and Saint Tamnia, 
and we have the evidence that our organization is 
the successors of those societies ; many of the ritual ■ 
i.stic ceremonies used by them being m vogue with 
us. Every school boy can recite the acts of that 
body of men. disguised as Indians, who at Boston, 
emptied the tea in the harbor, giving England to 
know that the iniquitous tax would not be paid; 
that taxation without representation was not the 
form of government for them ; that they proposed 
to found a government of their own, of the people 
and by the people. That disguised band of men 
were members of the Sons of Liberty. In order 
to advise with each other and to prove who were 
with them, these organizations were formed, and it 
was natural for those seeking a disguise, to adopt 
that of the Indians who were their neighbors, and 
whose costumes would excite least suspicion. 
After the success of the revolution these societies 
took more of a political character and were inter- 
ested in the formation of the new government. One 
branch up to the present time retains its political 



character, the society of Tammany, of New York; 
the other came into activity as a fraternal and 
beneficial organization and in 1832 adopted the 
present title, the Improved (.)rder of Red Men. 
At the present time it numbers 160,000, established 
in 40 states and territories. It expends yearly 
large amounts in the payment of sick and death 
benefits. The following statement is taken from 
the reports submitted in September, 1S97: Receipts 
from dues, $815,350; expended for sick benefits, 
$363,750; for relief of widows, $18,480; for burials, 
114, 5S6; amount invested. $1,680,210. When it is 
taken into consideration that the average dues per 
member is $6 per year, the good accomplished at 
a slight cost is incalculable. Local Tribes tiave 
jurisdiction of their own funds, fix the amount of 
dues per member, and the amount to be paid for 
sick and funeral benefits, the minimum amount 
being $3 per week for 13 to 26 weeks continuous 
sickness or disability, and from $25 to$20o funeral 
benefits. Surely we cannot have too many or- 
ganizations of this kind who relieve the distressed, 
feed the hungry and clothe the poor — from the 
orphans' eyes the tears remove, the widow's heart 
to soothe and calm affliction's sigh. In the village 
of Oxford, Dec. g, 1SS6, Kenotah Tribe. 105 was 
instituted with 33 charter members, by the then 
Gt. Sachem, Geo E. Green, of Binghamton, as- 
■sisted by Wamsutta Tribe 37. (Brother Green 
will next year become the head of the order with 
title Gt. Incohonee). The tribe has one of the 
handsomest wigwams in the country, situated in 
the old Masonic rooms, in the post-office block 
and has about 100 active members, composed 
of business and professional men and mechan- 
ics. They have a comfortable wampum (money) 
belt, have paid out large amounts in benefits, 
and are constantly adding to their member- 
ship. The officers for the present term are: W. 
M. Hinman, Sachem: J. E. Coogan, Sr. Sagamore; 
Wm. Miller, Jr. Sagamore; St. John Morton, 
Prophet; James I). Morgan, C. of R. ; G. W. 
Franklin, Col. of W. ; Jno. W. Bissikummer, K. 
of W. ; Geo W. Holdredge, Trustee.— P. G. Sa- 
chem, J. W. BisSIKl .\1MKR. 

Dr. Eugene M. Casey located in Oxford Septem- 
ber, i8g4, and has built up a large veterinary 
practice, making dairy cattle his special field of 
study. In a section with such large dairy inter- 
ests as this the treatment of cattle is an important 
part of a veterinarian's duties and the responsibil- 
ity imposed on him is greater than is generally 
supposed. The creameries to which most of the 
milk is taken are exacting as to the condition of 
the dairy, and it is important that the health of 
cattle should be carefully and intelligently cared 
for. Dr. Casey was bom at Port Jervis, March 
II, 1S71, and was educated in the public schools. 
He was graduated at the Ontario Veterinary Col- 
lege, Toronto, March 23, 1S93, a winner of honors 
and of a prize in anatomy for dissection, of which 
he made a special .study and in which he has met 
with marked success, generally experiencing the 
best results in that particular line of practice. 
Upon leaving school he .settled in New Milford, 
Susquehanna county, Pa., his old home, where 
his practice of a year and a half gave him the ex- 
perience which has proven valuable in a wider 
field. After settling here he engaged largely in 
the inspection of horses for intended purchasers, 
at the same time having the professional care of 
several large dairies. He purchased the residence 
No. 35 Washington avenue, where his office is lo- 
cated. Last year he returned to New Milford and 
married Agnes DeWitt, April 8, 1S96. He is a mem- 
ber of the New York State Veterinary Medical As- 
sociation, of the Improved Order of Red Men and 
of Sappho Hose Co. He was for two years presi- 
dent of the High School Alumni of New Milford. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



The Excelsior Mutual Life Association of Oxford, 

N. Y., was organized under the name of The 
Chenango Mutual Relief in i8Sr. It found an 
apology and an occasion for its birth in the fact 
that up to that time insurance companies doing 
business in the State under the "old line" plan 
furnished life insurance at altogether too great an 
expense to the insured, and in the belief that 
lower and more reasonable rates would invite 
many who perhaps had looked upon such invest- 
ments as desirable, but beyond their financial 
ability. For some years the Association transact- 
ed its business under the Post Mortem Assess- 
ment plan, which has since been changed for 
what IS known as the Flexible Premium plan. 



to resign. Many others might be mentioned to 
whose valuable aid and co-operation the Associa- 
tion is indebted. Assisted by such men as these, 
Mr. Charles W. Brown must be considered as the 
founder and originator of the Association. From 
iS8r to iSgo, Mr. Brown was its Secretary, and for 
many years now has been its President. He has 
been its general manager from the start. To him 
belongs the credit of devising and elaborating its 
plan of insurance. His wise and conservative 
management has carried the Association safely 
over many shoals and rapids which have tested 
the frailty of other companies, and has brought it 
to its present high standard of excellence and 
stable financial condition. Mr. Wm. K. Jacobs 




Photos by Burke. OFFICES OF THE EXCELSIOR MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. 



Many of the ablest business men of the town 
were early interested in the direction of the enter- 
prise, prominent among whom may be mentioned 
Dr. D. M. Lee, who, from the start until his 
death, was its Medical Director and was deeply 
interested in its welfare; Bradford G. Greene, 
who was, until his death in December, 1896, a 
valued member of the Executive Committee; J. 
R. VanWagenen, President of the First National 
Bank, who has been a member of the Board of 
Directors from the origin of the Association until 
the present time, and has contributed largely to 
the accurate business methods which have char- 
acterized the management. F. G. Clarke, senior 
member of the F. G. Clarke Blue Stone Co., also 
held a prominent place on the Board of Directors 
until his increasing business cares compelled him 



came into the employ of the Company in i88g and 
was made Secretary the following year, a position 
which he has filled with ability, faithfulness and 
loyalty, to the present time. The increasing bus- 
iness at the home office calls for considerable cler- 
ical force which has been headed for upwards of a 
year by Mr. Fred'k A. McNeil. Dr. J. W. Thorp is 
the present Medical Director of the Association and 
his care and skill give assurance that the high stan- 
dard heretofore established in the selection of risks 
will be fully maintained under his administration. 
Mr. J. C. Philley has for fourteen years given the 
Association most efficient service as general agent 
and has justly earned a position in the Board of 
Directors, to which he has recently been elected. 
Mr. Phillej' has charge of the agents operating 
in the original field of the Association. As a 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



67 




T. B. GALPIN. 



WELLINGTON ALEXANDER. 



field worker he has no superior. Notwithstand- 
insj; the rapid growth of the Company it retained 
its original name, The Cnenango Mutual Relief, 
until April 15th, 1897, when by an Act of the Leg- 
islature of the State of New York it assumed its 
present name. The Excelsior Mutual Life Asso- 
•ciation, as more fitting its progressive nature and 
the increasing territory of its operations. Its 
business is no longer confined to New York State, 
but It has already entered upon an extensive busi- 
ness in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and will 
soon be admitted to do business in other states. 
Mr. DeWitt P. Preston, whose large experience in 
insurance business for many years in Hartford, 
Conn., admirably qualifies hira for the work, has 
recently accepted the position of Superintendent 
•of Agencies and will have charge of the remote 
fields. It is safe to say that the 
careful and prudent manage- 
ment of The Excelsior Mutual 
Life Association with its ac- 
■cumulated assets, larger in pro- 
portion to its business than that 
of any other organization of 
the kind in the State, assures 
its patrons safer and cheaper 
insurance than is offered by 
any other company. The As- 
sociation has clear net assets 
of over $80,000 and nearly 
four millions of dollars of in- 
surance in force. The ofiicers 
are: Charles W. Brown, Presi- 
dent; Frank T Corbin, Vice- 
President; William K. Jacob-;, 
Secretary; Charles O. Wilcox, 
Treasurer; John W. Thorp, 
M. D., Medical Director. Board 
of Directors: Charles W. 
Brown, Frank T. Corbin, John 
R. Van Wagenen, Hon. Wil- 
liam F. Jenks, Hon. Elliot 
Danforth, Charles O. Wilcox, 
Frederick H. Burchard, Mil- 
lard D. McNeil. John W. Bissi- 
kummer, Richard M. Clark, M. 
D., J. €. Philley. 



The Oxford Times, whose worth can probably 
be no better attested than by the fact that for 
sixty years it has reflected the happenings and 
championed the interests of its town and county, 
and is now the sole survivor of the journalistic en- 
terprises which in years past have been launched 
upon the same community, was founded in 1836 
by a joint stock company. In 1S41 it passed into 
the hands of Purdy &- Brigham, from whom it 
was in turn transferred to Waldo M. Potter in 
i8-;4. After one year of undivided responsibility 
he shared the conduct of the paper with Judson 
B. Galpin, who came to Oxford possessed of an 
experience accrued from more pretentious jour- 
nalistic connections in the Nutmeg State. In 
184S Mr. Galpin assumed entire control of the 
paper, and his death in February, 1893, marked 
the close of a continuous connection of forty-eight 
years with The Times. The paper then passed 
into the hands of his eldest son, Theodore B. 
Galpin, who had for some time been actively con- 
nected with its publication. With the beginning 
of a new year he disposed of a one-half interest 
to Wellington Alexander, and under their joint 
management the business is now conducted. 

Although one of the oldest of Oxford's institu- 
tions. The Times has nothing of senility in its 
spirit or make up. It stands for Oxford first, last 
and all the time, and this sentiment, dominating 
as it does not only us reading columns but its 
business management as well, has won a generous 
appreciation from the public. The scrupulous- 
ntss with which T he Times has adhered to the 
cause of local interests has not always been to its 
immediate pecuniary advantage, but its pub- 
lishers have the satisfaction of knowing that its 
stand is approved by its home advertisers and that 
it is therein strengthening its foundation for future 
permanency. 

The Times is one of those papers which believes 
m owning its own home, preferring to assume its 
share of tax-paying rather than trust to the un- 
certainty of tenantry in a building which by con- 
tinued occupation had been brought to a peculiar 
fitness for the needs of such a business. Accord- 




C. W. BROWN'S RESIDENCE. 
PHILLEY'S RESIDENCE. GEORGE B. FLETCHER'S RESIDENCE 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



ingly in iSqs its present proprietors acquired pos- 
session of the building in which they are located 
and have since made improvements which have 
bettered the facilities for the business of job 
printing which they carry on in connection with 
their publication. In Grip's interview he was 
shown specimens of iine work which were far 
above the ordinary, and the particular care which 
this branch of the business has received has given 
The Times office a repute which has reached far 
beyond local surroundings. 

Messrs. Galpin & Alexander attribute much of 
their success to their familiarity with the me- 
chanical part of their business, both of them being 
practical printers, and having the work of the 
office under their personal supervision. Mr. 
Galpin has, it may be said, been identified with 
J'he Times from his boyhood. He was born in 
O.xford on the 23d day of January, 1S46, and even 
in the days when he was receiving his preliminary 
education at the Oxford Academy he was wont to 
divide his time out of school with work at the 
office, such as rolling the forms on the old Wash- 
ington hand press (which is to this day preserved 
in the office ), or 
essaying the com- 
position of a short 
piece of reprint. 
Later he spent 
some time at the 
Cazenovia Semi- 
nary, a school of 
considerable re- 
pute in those days, 
and at the close of 
his school days 
there he began his 
active connection 
with the paper, 
which has never 
ceased to this day. 
In fact, during the 
closing years of his 
father's life it was 
he upon whom the 
greater part of the 
responsibility de- 
volved. Mr. Gal- 
pin has never mar- 
ried, the wily cupid 
having failed to 
make him a victim 
of its caprice. He 
is possessed of an 
inimitable natural 
humor and is pop- 
ular among a large circle of friends and profes- 
sional brethren, to whom he is more familiarly 
known as •■ Dode." 

Mr. Alexander, although descended from an- 
cestors who have been more or less connected 
with Oxford's history, has had a wider sphere of 
activity. He was born m Greene, N. Y., on 
Thanksgiving day of the year 1871, an event 
which was followed about two years later by the 
death of his father. The early part of his life 
was spent with his grandparents in Oxford, and 
later he spent some years with relatives in Con- 
necticut, where he received the greater part of his 
education and became attracted to the printing 
business. At the age of seventeen he entered the 
office of the Seymour, Ct., Times, and later was 
employed on the Record oi the same place. From 
there he returned to Oxford, and his connection 
with 1 he Times has since been unbroken. He 
was married in 1895 to Lilian M. French, a young 
lady of excellent attainments, and by whom he 
has one son — a promising boy named Paul. Mr. 
Alexander has exhibited the qualifications for 
success at an early stage in life and his integrity 
of character has never been assailed. 



A. S. BURCHARD. 



Burchard Bros., the leading hardware and plumb- 
ing house of Oxford, are successors to Van Der Lyn 
&• Co., whom they bought out Jan i. iS33. The 
firm comprises Frederick H and Albert S The 
former went into the business as clerk Aug. 18, 
1S74, when it was conducted by Wm. A. Martin. 
On Feb. 22, 1S7S, he formed a copartnership with 
Ward Van Der Lyn under the firm name of Van 
Der Lyn & Co., which continued until his brother 
stepped in and the present firm was organized. 
The business is one of the largest along the line 
of the Ontario &■ Western R. R. , and it is doubtful 
if there is any house between Binghamton and 
Utica which handles the hardware and especially 
the quantity of agricultural implements that is 
sold yearly by this firm. During the forty years 
this house, with its few proprietary changes, has 
been in existence it has made a reputation for fair 
dealing and reliable goods which has extended 
throughout the country. The line embraces every- 
thing that is used as an implement on the farm, 
also a complete supply of builders' hardware, 
house furnishing 
goods, wagons, 
sleighs and car- 
riages, stoves and 
ranges, gas fittings, 
and kindred arti- 
cles too numerous 
to mention. Tak- 
ing up what it re- 
gards as the best, 
the firm makes a 
special drive on the 
New York State 
Champion Horse 
Rake and the Adri- 
ance, Piatt <!c Co. 
Buckeye Mowers. 
With the advent of 
gas and water ia 
the village Burch- 
ard Bros, are es- 
pecially ec|uipped 
for modern plumb- 
ing after the most 
approved sanitary 
methods. They are 
also engaged i n 
considerable large 
work in tin roofing 
and are as well 
large handlers of 
furnaces, especial- 
ly recommending the Richardson &• Boynton, 
which they have sold for the past twenty years, 
and the Kelsey, another equally good furnace. 
Both members of the firm are active in public 
matters and prominent in social and fraternal 
circles, being members of the Masonic order 
Their parents moved from New York to Preston 
forty years ago, and in iS6t) came to Oxford, 
where they gave their children the school advan- 
tages which, at that time, were considered much 
superior here than in adjoining towns. Burchard 
Bros, are among the promoters and incorporators 
of the new gas company and are members of the 
fire department. Fred, was born in New York 
Aug. I, 1855, and on Dec. 23. 1879, married Ellen, 
the daughter of Dr. Bruchhausen of Norwich. 
He is treasurer of the fire department and the 
Niagara Hose Company, as well as of the village. 
Albert was born in Preston May 27, 1862. He was 
a clerk for VanDerLyn & Co. several years ago, 
afterwards being engaged with other firms and, 
in 1885-6, as bookkeeper in the bank. He mar- 
ried Mary, the daughter of Ward VanDerLyn, 
Jan. 6, 1891. 




F. H. BURCHARD. 



F 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



69 



E. M. Rider, the furnishing goods merchant in 
the new bank building, opened his store in April, 
1896, with such a line of men's wearing apparel as 
had not previous to that time been placed on sale 
in Oxford. This store is really one of the finest 
finished stores in Oxford, being in keeping 
throughout with the style and elegance which is 
provided in every part of the bank building. Mr. 
Rider came to Oxford in February, 1895, and 
opened business in the old Fort Hill building on 
the east side of the river. Seeing the advantage 
of a modern store, at the time the bank was con- 
structed he was first to secure the only store in the 
building. It is 72x22, with large windows front 
and rear, especially front, which aifords excellent 
display to the street, and with every convenience 
for arrangement of goods. The line of goods car- 
ried are men's readymade clothing, hats, caps, un- 
derwear and furnishings, rubber goods and shoes 
for ladies, children and men. Mr. Rider was 
bom in Winfield, Herkimer Co., 1861, and was en- 
gaged in business there some years. At one time 
he was connected with the mail service. 

Harvey Morton is 
one of the oldest jew- 
elers in this section, 
having been engaged 
in the business for 
forty years. Coming 
to Oxford in i8go, he 
bought out J. W. Cud- 
worth and continued 
the business ever since 
at the same place, in 
the Harrington build- 
ing, on Main street. 
The stock comprises 
•everything in the jew- 
elers' line and the 
bench work is still 
kept up by Mr. Jlor- 
ton. He is assisted 
by his son, who has 
established a lucrative 
trade in cameras and 
photographers' s u p - 
plies, dealing largely 
in the Eastman Ko- 
dack and the Roches- 
ter Optical Co.'s cam- 
eras. He is also the 
agent for many of the 
best bicycles. The 
stock of goods com- 
prises watches and all 
kinds of solid and 
plated ware, jewelry 
in the latest designs, 
diamonds, clocks, etc. 
Mr. Harvey Morton 
■was born in Franklin, 
Delaware Co. , Oct. 11, 
1833. He began bench 
work at his chosen 
trade in Downsville, 
about 1S50 and was also employed at Can- 
nonsville. In 1873 he purchased a stock of 
goods and opened a store in Walton, where he 
continued the business until he came here. He 
married Emma Niles, of Walton, in February, 
1865. S. J. Morton was born at Walton, Janijary 
3, 1872. He IS a member of the Red Men, occu- 
pying the Prophet's stump; the Sappho Hose Co. ; 
the Riverside Wheelmen's Club; the L. A. W., 
and the Century Road Club, of America. 

Loomis & Cowles, dealers in general merchan- 
dise, formed a copartnership and bought out F. 



L. Perkins, taking possession Dec. i, 1890. Their 
place of business occupies a favorable location 
facing Lafayette square in the central part of the 
vil'age. It was established several years ago 
and was conducted by N. W. Perkins for a num- 
ber of years, it always having enjoyed the same 
lucrative trade of to-day. When Loomis & 
Cowles assumed the business they added several 
staple lines, and because the farmer could get 
about all he wanted in this one place, the busi- 
ness was greatly increased. The stock comprises 
dry goods, notions, groceries and crockeryware. 
Mr. Cowles was a clerk under Mr. Perkins and by 
making a wide acquaintanceship and selling 
goods wholly on their merits he made that place 
popular with the trade. Mr. Burdette H. Loomis 
was born at Smithville, May 26, 1863. He was a 
student of the Oxford Academy, where he was 
graduated in 1S85, afterwards attending Tuft's 
College. Mass., where he was graduated in the 
classical course in i88g. The present business 
enterprise is his first. Mr. Daniel B. Cowles was 
born in Smithville, Aug. 22, 1863, and attended 
school at the Homer and the Oxford academies. In 




Photo by Burke. HARVEY MORTON'S JEWELRY STORE. 

HARVEY MORTON. 



S. J. MORTON. 



1884 he entered the store of which he is now part 
owner as a clerk. He is a member of the Niagara 
Hose Co. 

Oxford Legion, No. 24, was organized April ist, 
i8g2. The amount paid in sick claims is $1,660; 
amount paid in death benefits Sgqo; amount paid 
in dividends $3,500. Officers for the present year: 
President, Herbert T- Saunders; Vice President, 
Ella Cooper; Past "President, Judson A. Root; 
Secretary, Edith Saunders; Treasurer, Fayette 
Carpenter; Chaplin, Roxanna E. Rogers; Conduc- 
tor, Henry H. Meade; Doorkeeper, Henry 
Holmes; Outside Doorkeeper, Leland Saunders. 



7Q 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



John E. Miller was for several years engaged in 
quarrying blue and gray stone, and while person- 
ally not active in the business at the present time, 
he still owns one of the most valuable and exten- 
sive deposits of true blue stone in the state, which 
is situated three miles northwest of the village of 
Greene, Chenango county, and is only partially 
developed; a quarry which lies within a few feet 
of the surface, thus exacting comparatively little 
labor and expense in uncovering it. It offers such 
an abundance ot building and flag stone that 
Mr. Miller anticipates its further development in 
the immediate future. Mr. Miller is a native of 
Oxford who received a liberal education and who 
was graduated at the Oxford academy, the valedic- 
torian of his class, and at Yale with honors, where 
he obtained the degree of A. M., and later, A. B. 



Beardsleyin quarrying and shipping blue stone 
at South Oxford, which partnership continued 
only a year and a half. Mr. Beardsley was one of 
the pioneers in the practical part of the blue stone 
business in this section, and was for many years 
assisted by his brother-in-law, Daniel W. Walker, 
and George Symonds. The organization of this 
firm led to the opening of three additional quar- 
ries, two in Greene and one in Smithville, from 
which all shipments were made on cars and by 
canal at Greene, the firm ha\dng several boats in 
commission for this service. In the fall of 1872 
another quarry was purchased and about a hun- 
dred men put at work. This opened a very fine 
grade of gray sandstone. It was located in the 
town of McDonough and, together with the 
Smithville quarry, produced large platform stone 
with a surface so smooth as to seldom require the 
use of chisels for finishing. From these beds 
were taken immense quantities of stone to be 




THE APPRO.\CH TO JOHN' E. MILLER'S QUARRY 



His instructors included Merritt G. McKoon and 
Prof. David G. Barbour, the former having been 
an instructor of his parents. Upon leaving school 
he .spent two years as clerk in his father's store and 
three years in banking, being the first teller of the 
First National Bank of Oxford, where he was em- 
ployed for about two years, and subsequently 
•occupying the same position for more than a year 
in the State National Bank of Minneapolis. While 
there he declined a flattering proposal to accept 
the cashiership and a place in the directory of a 
bank which was being organized in Des Moines, 
la,, by prominent men, among whom were the 
Lieutenant Governor of that state and Chief Jus- 
tice Chester C Cole, formerly of Oxford. His 
desire was to pursue an active out-door business, 
this being the special reason why, after register- 
ing at Albany as student in law, he decided not to 
follow that profession. In June, 1872, Mr. Miller 
entered into copartnership with Mr. William C. 



used in the construction of the Elmira reforma- 
tory and prison. The contractors, Keeler & 
Houck, of Owego. were unable to procure the 
stone of the required dimensions and quality or in 
suflScient quantity in any other quarries to supply 
the cell floors and the coping for the prison yard 
wall. Soon after, the fifth quarry, located in 
Greene, was added to the enormous source of sup- 
ply at the command of this firm, the business of 
which had by this time become so widely extend- 
ed as to necessitate the establishment of blue 
stone yards and agencies in various cities and 
towns throughout the state. The extent of the 
business, the large number of quarries and the 
several and widely distributed agencies, as well 
as the several important contracts, required con- 
siderable activity on the part of Mr. Miller, driv- 
ing over the hills to look after the quarries, visit- 
ing the several agencies and supervising contracts, 
the latter taking him to Syracuse, as far east as 
Amsterdam, Waterville. Owego and numerous 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



71 



other places. He also gave employment to many 
men the year around, spending thousands of dol- 
lars during the winter to keep his men busy. To 
indicate the scope of this enterprise at this time it 
is only necessary to point to a sketch published in 
the latest history of the county giving it consider- 
able prominence. After the retirement of Mr. 
Beardsley, which was in the fall of 1S73, Mr. Mil- 
ler conducted the business alone with success up 
to the fall of 18S0, when, desiring to introduce his 
stone in New York city, he submitted two car- 
loads of sample blue stone to the inspection of the 
old firm of Hurst & Treanor at their yards in 
West Forty-fifth street, which he shipped there 
for that purpose, accompanying it himself. Find- 
ing it difficult to get this variety of stone else- 
where, the New York firm proposed to take a half 
interest in the business at Oxford. On January 
25, 1881, articles of copartnership for two years 
were signed to engage in "mining and manufac- 



others of extra large size. Following the expira- 
tion of the copartnership Jlr. Miller disposed of 
the stone interest, except one of the Greene and 
the McDonough quarries. The importance of the 
business is further shown by several news para- 
graphs published in the newspapers throughout 
the country at the time, a few of which are here 
reproduced: "Large Contract — We learn that 
Miller & Beardsley have taken the contract to 
supply the state prison now building at Elmira, 
with stone for the floors of all the cells in that in- 
stitution. It is a large contract, amounting to 
about $20,000. The stone are to be taken from 
their Smithville quarry and delivered at the 
depot in Greene. — Chenango American, 1S73." 
"Another Contract. — Miller & Beardsley, stone 
dealers of this village, have just secured another 
contract for stone for the state prison now build- 
ing at Elmira. The contract amounts to $g,ooo 
and is for coping stone for the yard wall. Oxford 




THE OPENING IN JOHN E. MILLER ~ 



luring all kinds of blue and gray sandstone for 
flagging, curbing, buildings, posts, blocks, sills, 
water tables, lintels, etc., from the best quarries 
in central New York." The firm comprised W. 
H. Hurst, James J. Treanor, Frank P. Treanor, 
supt., and John E. Miller, associated under the 
name of John E. Miller & Co. During the pen- 
dency of this firm some large contracts were 
made to furnish quantities of stone for large 
buildings in course of construction in New York, 
among which were the new Produce Exchange, 
cost two millions, and the D. O. Mills, cost $2,500,- 
000, besides Grant's mausoleum. A large order 
was received for a $ro,ooo platform stone to be 
placed in front of William H. Vanderbilt's resi- 
dence on Fifth avenue. This stone was quarried 
at Smithville and weighed between twenty and 
thirty tons, but on account of its size could not be 
transported. The firm furnished a large platform 
stone for the Hon. Titus Sheard of Little Falls, 
two for the Hon. J. Sloat Fassett and several 



is now furnishing stone for this institution taken 
a short distance from the site offered the com- 
missioners on which to locate the prison here. — 
Oxford Times, 1873." "Still Another.— Miller & 
Beardsley of Oxford, have secured a third con- 
tract for building stone for the Elmira prison 
amounting to $4,000.— Oxford Times." "Can- 
not Be Surpassed. — Rome, N. Y., July, 1876. — 
Among the many excellent features of the new 
five-story McHarg block in this city, not the least 
worthy of notice are the broad flag walks which 
adorn it upon two sides. The stone were taken 
from the famous Smithville quarry of Miller & 
Beardsley at Oxford, Chenango Co., and cannot 
be surpassed in smoothness, beauty of surface, 
size or quality. Many of the flags are ten and 
eleven feet in length, containing from eighty to 
one hundred square feet. In thickness they vary 
from three to seven inches. The walk is twenty 
feet wide and contains about 5,500 feet of stone. — 
Utica Herald." 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



The Oxford W. C. T. U, was organized by Mrs. 
Clara O. Hadley, on March 22, 1897. Mrs.' C. B. 
Parsons was the first president. The Union has 
44 active and 14 honorary members Four depart- 
ments of work have been taken up: Mothers' 
meetings, Sunday school work. Literature and 
Narcotics. Other departments are soon to follow, 
as these white ribboners are in hearty sympathy 
with their motto: "For God and Home and 
Every Land." Meetings are held semi-monthly 
m the Y. M. C. A. rooms, which that association 
have kindly offered for the use of the Union. The 
officers: President, Mrs. D. D. Corbin; Vice 
Presidents, Mrs. P. G. Jacobs, Mrs. H. Tew, Mrs, 
Geo. Mallory, Miss Julia Swan; Recording Secre- 
tary, Mrs. F. E. Beadle ; Corresponding Secretary, 
Mrs. D. Race; Treasurer, Mrs. S. Moore. 




Glover & Oldfield's quarry is situated on the 
farm of Henry Mowrey, south of the Midland de- 
pot, the location being convenient to the N. Y,, 
O. & W. R. R., so that stone is easily transferred 
to the cars in short hauls, thus saving time which, 
as every one knows, makes the e.xpenses consider- 
ably lighter. The D., L. &• W. R. R down in the 
valley is also but a short distance from the quarry 
and being down hill and over good roads, the 
hauling of stone to the cars on that road is also 
greatly facilitated. Under such circumstances the 
firm is able to furnish stone to a greater advan- 
tage than many of its competitors, and to give 
its patrons the benefit of bottom figures. The 
quarry is yet in its infancy, having been opened 
only four or five months. It is opened back into 
the hill about forty feet, exposing a face of firm 
unbroken rock fully a hundred feet m length; 
with a bed of about eight feet now being worked. 
How much more bed there is, cannot of course at 
this time be ascertained, but the ledge gives every 
appearance of being inexhaustible. The rock pro- 



sible to handle, in blocks of unusually smooth sur- 
face, and along natural seams, without any reeds. 
It is the best available stone for curbing, flagging 
sills, lintels, coping, water tables; in fact for all 
purposes where stone can be used not to exceed six 
inches in thickness; very nice rock face — nice 
cutting stone. The stone wherever used is giving 
excellent satisfaction, and during the brief time 
the quarry has been worked, shipments have been 
made to several places, not only in this but in other 
states ; and the pro.spects for a largely increased 
demand next season are very flattering. The firm 
have not taken many orders for large stone this 
year, although the opportunity has often been pre- 
sented but they will be prepared next year to take 
orders for any size stone in general use. and will 
make contracts to lay, as well as furnish stone. 
The firm, compris- 
ing John R. Glover 
and James Old- 
field, were organis- 
ed June I, 1897, for 
the purpose of 
opening the quar- 
ry, Mr. Oldfield 
having been the 
first to discover the 
deposit. He i s a 
practical quarry- 
man and is fully 
accjuainted with all 
branches of the 
business He is a 
native of England 
and came to this 
country in 1865, 
c oming to this 
county thirteen 
years ago, and 
since then being 
engaged in work- 
ing in several quar- 



The Railroad Busi- 
ness of Oxford is 
greater than the 
average in towns 
of the same size. 
The D., L. & W., 
branchi n g from 
Kinghamton for 
I'tica, follows the 
windings of the 
Chenango river 
and cuts through 
the residential por- 
tion of the village. 
The agent is 



4ND Ledges. 

It is the direct route to New York 
G. P. Mead, who is also the agent for the United 
States Express Co., and his assistant, also opera- 
tors aie S. H. Mead and T. R. Collins, the night 
operator is E. L. Walker, Along the railroad are 
eligible sites for factories to which side-tracks can 
be laid. The New York Condensed Milk Co. 
ships large quantities of milk to New York from 
this station. The average monthly shipment by 
this road of the productions of the various enter- 
prises in the village is about two million pounds, 
not including milk, the average receipts by freight 
being about the same. The New York, Ontario & 
Western, laboring up hill and down, across the 
mountain ranges of Sullivan, Delaware and 
Chenango Counties, comes into Oxford on a side 
hill two or three hundred feet above the village, 
so that it is not convenient to receive freight and 
is a very round-about, laborious route to get over 
the country. The O.xford agent is C. W Sher- 
wood, an experienced railroad man who has been 
with the company 20 years, 17 of which in his 
present position. His assistant is F. Cating, the 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



Angell & Baldwin, located in what is known as 
"The Corner Store." at Main and Canal streets, 
succeeded M. A. Macomber July lo, 1897. They 
extended the scope of the business considerably, 
putting in a new line of all descriptions of boots 
and shoes and men's furnishings, including under- 




GEORGE B. ANGELL. RALPH H. BALDWIN, 
wear and hats and caps, as well as a varied assort- 
ment of trunks and satchels. Young men with 
progressive notions who are backed by the energy 
and capital possessed by this firm, knowing what 
will sell best, are generally successful ; and that 
is exactly the case in this instance. Their busi- 
ness has grown to the dimensions that re- 
quire still greater extension of floor space. This 
will be obtained in the course of the next few 
months, when the store will be second to none 
in the same line between Binghamton and Utica. 
Another feature of this business which has proven 
advantageous to customer as well as seller is that 
the one-price cash system, adopted in the begin- 
ning, has been strictly adhered to. This means a 
better stock to select from and much easier prices, 
the goods in all cases being reliable lines that are 
guaranteed, the firm keeping none other. Angell 
& Baldwin are also conducting a store in Cuyler, 
where they carry on a general merchandise busi- 
ness. George B. Angell, born on Cuyler Hill 
September 21. 1861, has been in mercantile busi- 
ness since 16 years of age, beginning as a clerk at 
that time in E. N. Andrews' general store at 
Lincklaen. Seven years later he received the 
appointment of postmaster of that place by Pres- 
ident Cleveland and held that position four years, 
when he started in business at Cuyler. He was 
married in 1S81. Ralph H. Baldwin, born at 
Pitcher November 23. 1871, entered Mr. Angell's 
store at Cuyler as a clerk in iSSS. Two and a half 
years later he went with Hulburt lV Mera at Tully, 
later with Seamans & Baker at Cortland, and 
after that with Seamans Bros, at Marathon, where 
he remained four years. He is a member of the 
Sappho Hose Company. 

Chenango Valley Lodge No. 85, I. O. G. T., was 

organized at Oxtord, February 25, i8yi. The first 
meeting was held in the Baptist church, with the 
County Chief Templar in the chair. The charter 
memoers were as follows: Rev C. B. Parsons, 
Rev. W. T. Sutherland, J. S. Dunn, George H. 
Dunn, Miss Florence Baker, Miss Ester Root, 
Miss Lena Root, Miss Bessie Smith, Miss Alice 
Hendrickson, Miss Anna Drake, Martin Church, 
Mrs. Martin Church, Austin Church, Clarence 



Drake Frank Root, George Ingraham. Benjamin 
Bullock, Miss Emma Moore, George L Stafford, 
Seth Bullock James Root. The first officers were: 
C. T., Rev. C. B. Parsons; V. T , Bessie Smith; 
Secretary, Lena Root; T. , Frank L, Root; F. S., 
Benjamin Bullock; Chaplain Rev. W. T Suther- 
land; Marshal, George Dunn; Guard, Miss Emma 
Moore; Sentinel. James Root; Assistant Secretary. 
Seth Bullock; D M. Miss Alice Hendrickson; 
P. C. T., Creorge L. Stafford; L, D., George In- 
graham; S. J- T., Mrs. Martin Church. The Lodge 
seems to be progressing and now has about thirty 
members. It meets in Robinson's hall every two 
weeks. Everything looks favorable for a pros 
perous future. 

Arthur C. Lewis, a young man, has achieved a 
flattering success in the insurance business. So 
well and faithfully has he represented the several in- 
terests confided to his care, that to-day he represents 
eight stock companies having combined assets of 
835.000.000. and controls probably the largest out- 
side business of any agency in Oxford. In March, 
1895, he secured one of the best office rooms in 
the village, the second floor front in the Bank 
building, overlooking Lafayette Square, where he 
IS now located. Mr. Lewis was born in McDon- 
ough. Chenango county, October 5, 1873. He 
graduated from Oxford Academy in 1890, taught 
school for two years following and then located in 
Brooklyn, where he engaged in the fire insurance 
business. Returning to Oxford in 1894, he pur- 
chased the insurance business of Pudney & Free- 
man, formerly owned by Garret H. Perkins. 
They represented three companies— the Home of 
New York, the Niagara of New York, and the 
Merchants' of Providence. R I , and did a busi- 
ness of about $1,000 a year in premiums. Mr. 
Lewis pushed the business with such energy and 
determination that a larger line of companies was 
a necessity, and he has since added the Conti- 
nental of New York, the Phenix of Brooklyn, the 
American Central of St. Louis, the Providence- 
Washington of Providence. R. I., and the Com- 
mercial Union of London, Eng.. thus offering a 
choice of many first-class companies. In three 




/^ 



Is 



A. C. LEWIS. 



years he has increased the premium income to 
about $6, 000 per year in place of $1,000. He is a 
member of the Sappho Hose Company and a direc- 
tor and the treasurer of the Oxford Co-operative 
Savings and Loan Association, which has just 
been formed. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




^""''SUBMr- 



Ehf r Won 



35 VM 



a i >» 




otii by Biiiku. 1 Hi: MXi.'dHU BASKET FACTORY. 

The Oxford Basket Works were moved from 
Ashtabula, O., where in 1S87 they were started, 
in i8go, for the purpose of getting a better supply 
of timber and getting nearer the market, which is 
principally in the New England states. New York 
and Pennsylvania. The firm was originally James 
Gleason, \V. C. Wright and C^ A. JIunyan. In 
1S91 Mr. T. C Avis bought out Messrs. Wright 
and Gleason, and in 
the fall of iSq4, upon 
the death of Mr- Avis, 
Mr. J. B. RedcU as- 
sumed a part interest, 
the firm being Mun 
yan & Redell. The 
latter was succeeded 
by C. L. Yates in the 
winter of 1S96. Here 
a building located 
alongside the D. , L, tV 
W. R R., 160x50 feet, 
and comprising three 
floors was secured, 
having engi ne and 
dryer rooms attached 
and sheds for the stor- 
age of stock. The 
shipment of goods is 
facilitated by a branch 
track with accommo- 
dations for eight or 
ten cars, connecting 
with a spacious plat- 
form. The capacity 
of the institution is 
between two and three 
cars daily, which it is 
possible to largely in- 
crease. A tract of tim- 
ber about three miles 
out of the village, suf- 
ficient to furnish mate- 
rial for two years was 
purchased, and there 
is plenty of other 



standing timber to be 
had when that is ex- 
hausted. The logs are 
drawn to the factory, 
where they are put 
through the steaming 
process and cut up for 
Ij.isket material by ma- 
chinery of the latest 
pattern, put in last 
winter at a cost of 
from $i,5uo to S2 000. 
The business of the 
firm is growing, with 
every possibility of 
doubling in a short 
time, as there is no 
other basket factory 
in this immediate vi- 
cinity. All kinds of 
fruit baskets and pack- 
i«iii„'" , . .1 ._, ages for grapes, 
peaches, berries, etc., 
■• .ire produced here, giv- 

ing employment to 
from sixty to seventy- 
five hands. The pro- 
duction also includes 
cheap splint baskets 
for all purposes, as 
well as delivery bas- 
kets for groceries and 
laundries. This fac- 
tory is of great bene- 
fit to the village, many families drawing wages 
which in the course of the year aggregate sev- 
eral thousands of dollars. Mr. Mun van was 
born in Ravenna, Ohio, December 22, 1S46, 
and for several years followed the occupation 
of stationary engineer, in addition to which he 
worked for some time as a mechanic. Twelve 
years ago he went into basket manufacturing at 
King.svhle, O., after which he went into the 






CaWw**;''**^ 




Photos by Burke. 



THE OXFORD BASKET FACTORY 
THE Shipping Platform. 



The Log Shaving Machine. 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 




present business. He married Miss Francis 
Curtis of Charlestown, O., January 7, 1872. He 
is a member of the F. M. C. Mr. C. L. Yates 
was born in Dryden. Tompkins county. Septem- 
ber 29, 1S33. He learced the carpenter and 
joiners trade when quite young and worked at it 
five years; alt-o worked as a millwright, and con- 
ducted a grist mill at Hartford, Cortland county; 
also built a grist mill in the town of Triangle, 
Broome county, moving to Oxford in 1891, vsrhere 
he conducted the roller mills for five years. He 
was married to Elizabeth Benedict at Slaterville, 
Tompkins county, July 10, 1S57. 

Kirchner & Johnson, three years ago opened 
the quarry they have since conducted on East Hill 
near the O. & W. depot, where they found a vein of 
the best sandstone for flagging, running in thick- 
ness from one to eight inches. They began to 
take out stone of any size from flags to platforms, 
the seams running evenly so 
that the stones are true and have 
a smooth surface. It was found 
that the firm had an inexhaust- 
ible supply for curbing, coping 
and all kinds of building, and 
that they were able to take 
large or small contracts by 
which they could produce and 
lay flags for walks or platforms. 
This quarry lies between the O. 
& W. and the Lackawanna rail- 
roads, and by reason of short 
hauls the firm save consider- 
able that would otherwise have 
to come from the pockets of 
their consumers. A. E. Kirch- 
ner has lived in Oxford seven 
years, being a native of Troy. 
He is a pharmacist by profes- 
sion. C. H. Johnson is a prac- 
tical quarryman and takes per- 
sonal charge of getting out the 
stone, while his partner has 
charge of the business general- 
ly, selling stone and making 
contracts for work. 



IXER & JOHN.SON'S OUARRV. 

Abdallah Star Stables, George W. Bates, superin- 
tendant. Almont was bred by B. F. Edwards, of 
Chicago, 111. Sire, Mammont, 2052. full brother 
to Stanford's Piedmont, 2:i7;.(, sold for §27,500; by 
Almont, 33;he by Alexander's Abdallah, 15. Dam, 
Lady Sangamon, by Col. Wilbur's Hambletonian, 
by Rysdyk's Hambletonian 10. Almont started 
in a "green" race at Afton, with eighth position, 
in a field of nine horses, winning the race in 
straight heats. la the same stable are two direct 
granddaughters of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, by- 
Knickerbocker, 200, and Barkis; a granddaughter 
of Smuggler, 2:15)4, trotting champion from '76 
to '84; colts by Wilkes Golddust, 2:23 V, Sprague 
Golddust, 2:15)4. greatest campaigner of 1889, 
driven by the veteran, Charley Green ; also colts 
by good sons of Alcyone, 2K7, Stamboul, 2:07)^, 
Sentinel, 2:80, and by Daniel Lambert. 




"6 



THE OXFORD HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 



Birdseye of the County.— Chenango county, cen- 
trally dibtant 94 miles Irom Albany, 200 miles from 
the nearest point on the Atlantic coast, and 60 
miles from the shore of Lake Ontario, northwest 
of the interior of the State, is largely a dairy sec- 
tion, though hops are produced in great abundance. 
It contams over 500,000 square acres, and is forty 
miles long, with the maximum width of thirty-four 
miles. The towns comprised are Afton, Bain- 
bridge, Columbus, Coventry, German, Greene, 
Guilford, Lincklaen, McDonough, New Berlm, 
North Norwich, Norwich, Otsehc, Oxford. Phar- 
salia. Pitcher, Plymouth, Preston, Sherburne, 
Smithville, Smyrna. The county is broken by 
two low ranges of hills extending north and south, 
the head lands of the Alleghany mountains, attain- 
ing an elevation of Soo feet above the villages. 
The Susquehanna river flows across the northeast 
corner of the county, through the towns of Afton 
and Bainbridge The Chenango river entering the 
northwest corner of the town of Sherburne flows 
generally in a southerly direction through that 
town and North Norwich, Norwich, Oxford and 
Greene. The Unadilla river, forming the great- 
est portion of the eastern boundary of the county, 
empties into the Susquehanna in the town of 
Bainbridge. Otselic creek flows across the north- 



y^-'X. 




THE HOTCHKISS HOUSE. 

west corner of the county, through the towns of 
Otselic and Pitcher. The Geneganslet and the 
Canasawocta streams rise in the town of Phar- 
salia, the east branch of the latter in Otselic. The 
former flows in a south westerly direction through 
the towns of McDonough, Smithville and Greene, 
receiving the waters of the Balsom, Frye, Strong, 
Red, Ford and Indian creeks, all from the west 
and empting into the Chenango river, three miles 
below the village of Greene. The Canasawacta 
flows east by southeast through the towns of Ply- 
mouth and Norwich, and empties into the Che- 
nango river in the village of Norwich. 

R. W. Taft, the proprietor of the Hotchkiss 
House , the leading hotel in Oxford, took posses- 
sion March 25, iSgs, and under his management 
the hotel has become popular with the traveling 
public, being the stopping place of most all of 
them. The house is nicely situated facing 
Lafayette Square, and is lighted with incan- 
descent lights and provided with running water 
direct from a spring of pure water belonging to 
the hotel. A complete bar and pool room are con- 
nected with the house. Mr. Taft conducted the 
Commercial at Greene, two years before coming 



to Oxford. He was born at Greene, March g, 
1S67, and on December 12, 1S93, was married to 
Bertha .A.., the daughter of Oliver Mi ler, of Ox- 
ford. Mr. Taft is a member of the Red Men. He 
is greatly interested in fine horses, generally 
keeping a good team besides one or two for the 
track. 

The Riverside Wheelmen (See page 44) was orga- 
nized May 22. 1895, succeeding the Oxford Wheel 
Club, organized April 2S, 1891. Officers and mem- 
bers: W. F. Powers, President: W. G. Austin, Vice- 
President ;S. J. Morton, Secretary and Treasurer; 
Peter V. Newkirk, Captain ; W. E. Gibbon, First 
Lieutenant; B. Hurlbert, Second Lieutenant; Earl 
D. Mack, Color Bearer; E. L Walker, Bugler; J. B. 
Sherman, Second Bugler; L. E. Jones, H. A. Hunt, 
A. J. Hicks, Board of Directors; James Dunne, 
J. W. Harrington, A. D. Parker, James H. Hogan, 
A. C. Lewis, C. R. Gale, M. L Whitney, John 
Hoag, John Coogan, Albert Hicks, Leland Saun- 
ders, George R. Scratton, G. W. Quackenbush, 
Fred R. Burke, J. M. Harrington. Charles A. 
Todd, Oren Thompson, John H. Byrne, Floyd 
Carpenter, L. D. Robinson. The club has pleas- 
antly furnished rooms in the Van Der Lyn block. 
Once a year a racing team is chosen to compete in 
various events in the vicinity, the team this year 
being S. J. Morion, H. A. Hunt, J. 
M. Harrington, J. B. Sherman. 
Among those who have captured 
spoils on such occasions were Oren 
Thompson, a silver tea set at 
Greene and a pearl opera glass at 
Norwich; S. J. Morton, a clock at 
Afton; H. A. Hunt, a silver tea 
set in a road race at Greene and a 
silver water set at Norwich; J. M. 
Harrington, a clock and a coffee 
set at Delhi. Every Decoration 
Day the club makes a century run. 
There are not a few scorchers in 
the crowd, particularly W. E. Gib- 
bon, John Coogan, Leland Saun- 
ders, Charles A. Todd and Oren 
Thompson. S. J. Morton is the 
local consul for the L. A. W. 

Impressions. — The impressions 
madt in a sojourn of less than one- 
half year in a town can not do the 
town justice Yet my impressions 
of the beautiful village of Oxford 
have been favorable. The clean 
and well kept stieets, the tidy and 
attractive residences (.scarcely an old rookery in the 
village), the beautiful and inviting parks (surpass- 
ed by no village of its size in the state), the inter- 
est manifested in education, the activity in business 
life, the advantages afforded to the surrounding 
country, and especially the brotherly kindness 
among the different churches, and the friendliness 
of the people as a wholc^all go to impress the 
stranger that Oxford is in nearly every respect an 
up todate town, — a very desirable place for those 
seeking a pleasant home, or a place to give their 
children the advantages of preparatory school. — J. 
H. Little. 

Coasting and Skating.— Oxford is a favorable 
place for coasting, the long, winding hill roads 
giving a clear descent in some cases of over a 
mile. Coasting bobs are quite the feature for 
winter fun. Among those owning, and who are 
expert in directing coasters down the long, steep 
hills surrounding Oxford are Robert E. Austin, 
Fred. Burke, Ed. Dunning, Seymour Fleming, 
Robert Randall and Earl Freeman. There is 
plenty of good skating on the Chenango river and 
a large number of famous skaters in Oxford, many 
of whom are graceful in cutting figures, while 
others are rapid in long-distance stretches. 



mr$, 6, lit. Tngrabam, 



Cash millinerv Rouse, 



FASHIONABLE Dfess Making. 



Mrs. M. I. Nowlan. 

DEALER IN 

Experienced Cutter and Fitter. | Fancy Goods, Notions, Bazaar Patterns. 

No. 41 State Street. [ ^"t^^/em =fquare. OXFORD, N. Y. 



POOPFR f& T-TTXT ^ up stairs, 

V-»V^V^I^ J-.IV ex, Jni 1 1^^-^^^*' OPPOSITE POSTOFFICE. 

MERCMAINX XAILORS. 

Selling Agents for Wanamaker & Brown's Clothing. w.'h.'^hitt:'^ 

E. S. ZACHARIAS, ^ ^ i 

Practical SboemaKer^^Cwenty Vears' experience. 

Making and Repairing. Also Shoe Findings for sale. Cut Taps, Nails, 

jt jt ^ ^ Leather and Rubber Cement. 

We Are Leaders 
FOLiGood Smoke. 




no., 



OXFORD, N. Y., 

Manufacturers of 



S- 



HIGH 

CLASS 

CIGARS. 



We have the '' Grip '' 

On the people who wish to find a complete line of Fancy Goods, 
Toys and Novelties for the Holidays. Also a staple line of 
Crockery, Toys, Fancy China and Groceries the year around. ^ ^ 

WHERE? THE GREAT FAIR. m. d. aldrich. Proprietor. 

THE OXFORD BAKERY, ^ ^ 

Tlie only place in town wJiere Fresh Bakestuffs can be had at 
all times. Try them and be convinced of their superiority. 

HOME-MADE PIES A SPECIALTY. ^ ^ .^ ^ 

North Canal Street. G. W. QUACKENBUSH, Proprietor. 

FORT HILL MARKET, oxfordTnTy 

CRONK & XEW, 

Dealers in all kinds of Fresh and Salt Meats. Oysters in Season. 

East Main Street, near Fort Hill Square. 

RIVERSIDE MARKET, cnTipprrrcnivr Prnnr.vfnrc 

East Main Street.End of the Bridge. SHUFELT & SON, PrOprietOrS. 

CHOICE MEATS, OYSTERS AND FISH, j^ ^ jt 

ORDERS TAKEN AND DELIVERED PROMPTLY. 



OXFORD 



ESTABLISHED 1838 




TIMES. 



ISSUED EVERY TUESDAY HORNING. 



GALPIN & ALEXANDER, Proprietors. 



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